SMU’s Shameful Plan to Use Shetland Pony as a Prop at ACC Championship Game Slammed by PETA

For Immediate Release:
December 6, 2024

Contact:
David Perle 202-483-7382

Following reports that Southern Methodist University (SMU) is bringing its “mascot”—a Shetland pony named Peruna IX—to the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Championship Game Saturday night, PETA fired off a letter today to SMU President R. Gerald Turner urging him to cancel the senseless stunt and put an end to the school’s archaic tradition of having a live mascot. PETA notes that subjecting a highly strung pony to boisterous crowds is traumatic and points out the swift backlash that Louisiana State University recently faced for carting out a live tiger during a football game.

“Ponies are prey animals whose instinct is to panic and flee from startling noises, yet SMU plans to parade this pony like a toy in front of a stadium full of screaming fans, noisemakers, and a band,” says PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo. “PETA is urging SMU to consider Peruna IX’s perspective, cancel this appearance, and leave ponies in peace by ending the school’s live mascot program.”

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to use for entertainment”—points out that Every Animal Is Someone and offers free Empathy Kits for people who need a lesson in kindness. For more information, please visit PETA.org or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

PETA’s letter to Turner follows.

December 6, 2024

R. Gerald Turner, Ph.D.

President

Southern Methodist University

Dear President Turner:

Greetings from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA). I’m writing today regarding news that you’re planning to bring Peruna IX to Saturday night’s ACC showdown against Clemson. We urge you to cancel this senseless stunt and put an end to this archaic tradition. Please consider the following.

SMU shouldn’t be teaching students that it’s OK to subject a pony to bright lights, screaming crowds, bands, noisemakers, and an unfamiliar environment. Ponies are prey animals. They are easily stressed or frightened by loud noises—and no amount of “grooming” or summer band practices will prepare them for the chaos of game day.

As more and more people realize that every animal is an individual with their own interests, needs, and personalities—as well as the capacity to feel pain, fear, and love, students and sports fans alike are increasingly opposed to using live animals as “spectacles” at sporting events. This is evidenced by the recent debacle at LSU in which a live tiger was carted out in a cage to a football game. Following the event, the student government unanimously passed a resolution pushing for LSU leadership to ban the exploitation of all live tigers.

For 30 years, as president at SMU, you’ve overseen three different Perunas: the “skittish” Peruna VII, who broke his leg but was still forced to run during games for years until the swelling became so unmanageable that he was retired and his liver failed; Peruna VIII, who rebelled against handlers and stomped and whinnied before games—both signs of high levels of stress; and Peruna IX, who has been forced to attend loud, stressful games for over a decade.

Please, consider the fear and stress Peruna IX would no doubt experience on Saturday and cancel this live appearance. And as you conclude your leadership at SMU at the end of the academic year, we urge you to permanently end the use of “Perunas” so that no more ponies will be made to suffer in the name of entertainment at SMU.

Thanks for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Tracy Reiman

Executive Vice President