Real Horses Used In Carousel “Ride” At Tourist Attraction In China; Horses Forced To Walk In Circles

A tourist attraction in China’s Shaanxi province has sparked controversy after promoting a carousel ride featuring live horses. 

Located in the Shijingli Scenic Area in Xi’an, the “ride” has six horses tethered to a rotating metal frame, each positioned about a metre apart beneath a large tent umbrella — much like what you’d imagine a carnival-style merry-go-round to look like, but with real horses. 

Advertised as a “rotating real horses” attraction, the ride is promoted with phrases such as “instantly turn for good luck”, “change your luck”, and “get rich instantly.”

Speaking to Chinese media, a staff member at the attraction said the ride is part of the “Fantasy Martial Arts Town” lineup, originally scheduled to run from February 6 to March 8. It is one of many themed performances co-organised by the scenic area and a third-party company.

“It was quite popular with visitors, and most rides were fully booked. We had staff present to guide and manage the horses, and the carousel rotated at a relatively slow speed,” said the staff member.

The carousel runs daily from 10am to 9.30pm and requires a separate fee on top of the scenic area’s admission charge of 29.9 yuan (S$5.50).

The attraction has sparked widespread backlash online, with many questioning the ethics of using live animals for entertainment and raising concerns about the possible risks to both the horses and visitors.

Netizens have accused the attraction of animal cruelty, expressing concerns that the horses could become unwell from repeatedly moving in circles. 

Many called it “torture”, forcing animals meant to run freely to repeat the same motion all day. 

“A horse is not a machine and has feelings,” asserted one netizen. 

Some also felt that by promoting the ride as “good luck,” the attraction was profiting from animal suffering, turning what they believed was a cruel practice into a source of profit.

The attraction has been suspended following public backlash. 

China has seen similar attractions in the past. In September 2018, a shopping centre in Chengdu launched a motorised carousel that forced live horses to walk in circles. That attraction too, sparked backlash, and was eventually halted. 

According to the former director of the National Equine Animal Safety and Welfare Centre at the China Horse Industry Association, horses are not meant to endure such strain.

While horses are naturally meant to walk in straight paths, circular movement is only suitable in limited spaces and should never last more than an hour.

“Continuous movement in one direction, especially in small-radius circles, creates unbalanced strain on their legs and joints, accelerating wear on one side of the body,” they explained.