This is a report received by protesters from a customer of Bobby Roberts Circus in relation to a performance on Thursday 27 March 2008 7pm. See demo report: 
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395225.html
http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2008/04/395225.html
A girl worked with the small ponies. They looked scruffy and needed a good groom. They were made to walk round the edge of the ring on their hind legs which I did not like.
A man worked the horses, which all looked very thin. All the horses had marks on their backs (rump) which I felt could have been whip marks. One horse in particular, a golden horse, was very thin and had a white mark on its belly which was clearly visible when it was standing on its back legs.
The horses were made to bow and run round in circles. Then they were made to stand on their hind legs and walk round in a circle and backwards and forwards for several minutes. I did not like this at all.
Small dogs had to jump on stools and then on to the horses’ backs. This was awful. The horses had extremely tight straps under their tails and their bits were rigid and looked painful for the horses.
At one point it appeared that the horses were not doing as they were told and they tried to run out of the ring.
I found these animal acts really awful and had I known they were part of the performance I doubt if I would have gone to the circus.
After the performance I paid £1.50 to see the animals. I got my camera out to take a photo of the ponies and was told rudely and abruptly that no photos were allowed. I couldn’t understand why not.
I was allowed to stroke the small ponies and felt so sorry for them with their scruffy coats. I would have loved to have given them a proper groom!
The camel was chained in its small pen. Its coat was very matted. I was warned to stay back from it and wondered if it had been badly treated so was wary of any people and dangerous because it was scared.
As this is a small circus I wondered if there was not enough money spent on feed and so the animals were not getting what they needed, or were they starved in order to train them?
I was upset at the state of the elephant. She was in a roped area at one end of the tent and was standing as far back as possible. She was chained and not moving at all. She was droopy-eyed and didn’t look at all happy. She did have plenty of hay on the wooden platform but she wasn’t touching it.
It was freezing cold and none of the animals could move around to get warm. Everything in the tent and the animal acts disturbed me a lot. I am very glad I did not take my older children as they would have been very upset.
Incidentally, the toilet facilities were really awful. They were dirty, smelly and falling apart. The door did not shut properly and the steps to the cubicles were broken and dangerous. The circus seemed to care very little about its customers’ safety. The evening left me feeling very disturbed.
A man worked the horses, which all looked very thin. All the horses had marks on their backs (rump) which I felt could have been whip marks. One horse in particular, a golden horse, was very thin and had a white mark on its belly which was clearly visible when it was standing on its back legs.
The horses were made to bow and run round in circles. Then they were made to stand on their hind legs and walk round in a circle and backwards and forwards for several minutes. I did not like this at all.
Small dogs had to jump on stools and then on to the horses’ backs. This was awful. The horses had extremely tight straps under their tails and their bits were rigid and looked painful for the horses.
At one point it appeared that the horses were not doing as they were told and they tried to run out of the ring.
I found these animal acts really awful and had I known they were part of the performance I doubt if I would have gone to the circus.
After the performance I paid £1.50 to see the animals. I got my camera out to take a photo of the ponies and was told rudely and abruptly that no photos were allowed. I couldn’t understand why not.
I was allowed to stroke the small ponies and felt so sorry for them with their scruffy coats. I would have loved to have given them a proper groom!
The camel was chained in its small pen. Its coat was very matted. I was warned to stay back from it and wondered if it had been badly treated so was wary of any people and dangerous because it was scared.
As this is a small circus I wondered if there was not enough money spent on feed and so the animals were not getting what they needed, or were they starved in order to train them?
I was upset at the state of the elephant. She was in a roped area at one end of the tent and was standing as far back as possible. She was chained and not moving at all. She was droopy-eyed and didn’t look at all happy. She did have plenty of hay on the wooden platform but she wasn’t touching it.
It was freezing cold and none of the animals could move around to get warm. Everything in the tent and the animal acts disturbed me a lot. I am very glad I did not take my older children as they would have been very upset.
Incidentally, the toilet facilities were really awful. They were dirty, smelly and falling apart. The door did not shut properly and the steps to the cubicles were broken and dangerous. The circus seemed to care very little about its customers’ safety. The evening left me feeling very disturbed.
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Appalling treatment of animals in Bobby Robert's Circus
04.04.2008 12:19
There were so many animals performing; miniature shetland ponies, about 6 horses, 2 dogs, 2 donkeys, a camel and Anne the Elephant. The animals were thin and their hair was in an awful condition. The horses seemed to be in serious discomfort from the bits in their mouth. Anne, the last circus elephant in England looked so upset and was used as a money making scheme; children could pay £5 to have a photo with her!
I cannot believe a 55 year old elephant can be allowed to be carted around the country just for the entertainment of customers.
There was a lot of good acrobatics in the show and I'm sure the show would still get the same amount of customers without the animals.
This should not be allowed!
Elizabeth from HItchin
ELIZABETH
circus was good
04.04.2008 16:14
I think the person commenting here is anti circus and therefore if this is the case why did you go to the circus - the poster had a picture of animals on it so we knew there would be some animals.
Paul
PAUL BRENNAN
Hmm…
04.04.2008 17:45
ARA
anne 10/4/08
10.04.2008 08:12
bruce strutton
My view
23.04.2008 10:20
I had heard all the views of the animal rights people , however i wanted to make my own mind up on the matter and not have it made up for me.
The night was very good i saw no mistreatment of any animals, i paid my £1:50 and went back stage to see the living condition, and found them to be clean the animals had plenty of water , food ,and space to move arouud. The animals seemed to have good looking coats and all well looked after.
So the next evening i decided to take my two boys to visit the circus, the most upsetting thing for the boys was getting past the animal rights people who shouted abuse at me and to a family in front of me , it made my yougest boy cry.
However they had a great time at the circus and we will go again.
I will end by saying go and see for your self and dont be put off by the bullies at the gates.
Clive Houseland
We felt sorry for Ann The Elephant
29.05.2008 19:50
As for the horses the bits and holters thay had on seemed very tight so thay could not lift their heads.. very upseting we have been to a few cirucs but none with animals i dont think we will be going again !
Emily
emily
e-mail:
emily.moran@tesco.co.uk