Pony Rides And Barnyard Animal Petting Zoo Popular Fair Attraction
By Robert Thomas
One of the new things at the 2023 Moose Jaw Hometiwn Fair is a petting zoo and pony rides.
Located in a shady spot close to the Zipper - just south of the Golden Mile Arena - the petting zoo offers a wide assortment of farm animals that Fair attendees can pet.
“The kids can play with the rabbits, ducks, little pigs, the goats, the sheep and donkeys,” owner Doug Fairbairn from Nipawin said.
There are friendly goats of all sizes - MJ Independent photo
Location of the petting zoo is something Fairbairn is appreciative of.
“It’s very good . It’s one of the better places we have been in other than being indoors,” he said.
Fairbairn said it is a good opportunity for kids to come and look at farm animals. Something some may never had the opportunity to do.
Ice cream cones full of food for animals can be purchased for $3 - MJ Independent photo
Although Moose Jaw is a small city surrounded by farms Fairbairn said there are a few people who have not seen many farm animals.
When the farmyard petting zoo was in Saskatoon there were many children who had never seen farm animals before.
“We have little kids all the way up to teenagers who get quite a kick out of it.”
Young children are attracted to the animals - MJ Independent photo
Not only are there barnyard animals to look and interact with there are also pony rides that can take all ages of people in a circular ride.
The pony rides are not just for young children.
“We’ve had grandmas and others in the past. I have a couple of quarter horses on there we have had 200 pound people,” he said, adding “we had a grandma who was 68 years old ride yesterday.”
It’s not just young children but also teenagers who are attracted the the rabbits - MJ Independent photo
Asked how he felt about a grandma taking a pony ride Fairbairn said “we have had grandmas before. It’s quite common.”
“The pony rides are for everyone from two to 90 years old.”
So long as people are able to mount and dismount easily they can take a ride.
One of the things he sees are many people who have never rode a pony before.
More inquisitive goats - MJ Independent photo
The pony rides and the petting zoo is free and is not only popular with small children but teenagers as well.
The only thing that costs money are ice cream cones full of feed that cost $3. The $3 is flexible though.
Bottle feeding a baby pig - MJ Independent photo
“If a kid doesn’t have the $3 (for the feed) we often just give them one,” he said so they can enjoy being up close with the farm animals.
A baby pig was popular - MJ Independent photo
Fairbairn said so far hundreds of people have taken advantage of free pony rides and expects Saturday to be a busy day but in Saskatoon they were able to have 1,000 pony rides in a day so there should be an opportunity for everyone to take a ride.