A controversial vegan activist known for her attention-seeking stunts has labelled police horses ‘modern day slavery’.
Tash Peterson, from Perth, whose previous antics include storming restaurants, a Bunnings sausage sizzle, a family friendly fete, and running on to the ground during an AFLW match at Optus Stadium.
The 27-year-old animal rights campaigner shared a video of two mounted police officers to her Instagram account on Monday – where she goes by the name vganbooty.
Ms Peterson shared a video of two mounted police officers ([pictured) on Monday to her 15,000 followers saying that the practice was ‘slavery’
Ms Peterson (pictured) from Perth has pulled a number of stunts in support of animal rights in recent months
The clip, which has been liked by more than 1,000 people, shows the two officers riding their horses down a deserted Perth street as Ms Peterson drives passed.
‘Nice slaves you have there, animal abusers,’ Ms Peterson yells, before the car she was travelling drove away.
She captioned the clip: ‘Animals are not here for us. They are not food, entertainment, commodities, objects, machines or slaves. They are individuals who deserve to love freely from harm.
‘Abolish animal slavery, end the animal holocaust.’
People commenting on the video were divided over Ms Peterson’s stunt and whether riding horses was mistreatment of the animals, with most defending the practice.
‘How is this animal abuse? I see nothing harmful here just cops doing their job making sure everything is ok outside,’ one person said.
‘Don’t know what’s wrong with horse riding,’ another person said.
‘Police horses are incredibly well looked after Tash,’ added a third.
‘As a vegan you are going about this completely wrong. Your actions are why people dislike vegans. Grow up and stop entering restaurants and shops your protests. You won’t change their minds,’ a fourth said.
The 27-year-old (pictured) previously confronted diners at a KFC and a seafood restaurant
Vegan activist Tash Peterson previously confronted Bunnings customers (pictured) about eating meat at a sausage sizzle raising money for hero firefighters
Ms Peterson pulled a similar stunt at the Funmantle children’s holiday festival in Fremantle in April where she confronted Ponies for Any Occasion owner Meg Freeman.
She shouted ‘animal abuse’ at Ms Freeman and her employees in front of shocked children who were enjoying pony rides.
She also then uploaded footage of herself confronting the workers as they walked the ponies through the fairground, declaring ‘this is slavery’.
Ms Freeman can be heard in that clip responding: ‘They’re not, they’re happy girls’.
The activist, clad in shorts which read ‘vegan booty,’ then shouted ‘You’re using them as show ponies. Animals are not here for our own entertainment.
‘If they were humans, do you think it would be any different?’
Ms Freeman then threatened to call security, while pleading with Ms Peterson to walk away.
‘It’s blatant slavery. Don’t treat animals like that, they deserve to live freely. I’m standing up for these animals that can’t speak for themselves,’ Ms Peterson said.
Tash Peterson (right, in white) harassed Ponies For Any Occasion owner Meg Freeman (in black) during the Funmantle children’s holiday festival in Fremantle in April
Ms Freeman, who appeared visibly distressed, tried to walk away from Ms Peterson before eventually turning around and confronting her.
‘Don’t upset the girls. You’re actually being aggressive and I don’t think it’s very kind. There’s children here, please,’ she told Ms Peterson.
Ms Peterson uploaded the footage of the tense clash to her Facebook page, where she doubled down on her actions.
‘These innocent slaves are being subjugated and demeaned to create profit for their slave owners to entertain children,’ she wrote alongside the video.
Ms Peterson uploaded the footage of the tense clash at a family fete to her Facebook page, where she later doubled down on her actions
Ms Peterson has pulled a series of stunts over the past year to protest against the meat industry – including dressing in butcher aprons at a McDonald’s and a Coles and accosting customers as they walked by.
She was also fined $1,800 after running onto the ground during Western Australia’s first AFL women’s derby at the city’s Optus Stadium last February.
More recently, she was scolded by Australia Day crowds after lecturing Bunnings customers at a sausage sizzle raising money for the state’s firefighters.
MS Peterson previously ran onto the oval at Optus Stadium with a black flag that read ‘right to rescue’ at Perth’s Optus Stadium, late in the first half of a Fremantle and West Coast