The Royal Ballet and Opera has announced it will discontinue the use of live animals in its stage productions, marking an end to a longstanding tradition that included miniature ponies and birds. This decision follows an organization-wide review aimed at modernizing practices and aligning with international theater standards.

Since the 1960 premiere of Frederick Ashton’s La Fille mal gardée at the Royal Opera House, generations of white Shetland ponies have appeared on stage, becoming a beloved part of performances. Most recently, a pony named Oscar, who debuted in last year’s revival, succeeded Peregrine, the veteran pony now retired to a field in Scotland. In addition to the ponies, live birds have occasionally featured in Ashton’s The Two Pigeons, another ballet performed at Covent Garden.

The Royal Ballet and Opera stated that future iterations will replace live animals with “beautifully crafted wooden automata,” reflecting an effort to enhance professionalism and animal welfare. The company praised the ponies’ contributions over the years and expressed confidence that the new mechanical counterparts would become audience favorites.

Kevin O’Hare, director of the Royal Ballet, previously commented on the challenges involved with having animals on stage, noting practical concerns such as the need for care staff to manage the ponies during performances. Historically, the task of following the pony on stage and managing its care was often assigned to the youngest cast member, regarded as a rite of passage.

Animal welfare groups have long campaigned against the use of live animals in theater. Mimi Bekhechi, a senior executive at the animal rights organization Peta, welcomed the Royal Ballet and Opera’s decision, describing it as a “standing ovation” moment. She emphasized that real animals do not belong in stressful stage environments and praised the move to replace live animals with crafted props. Peta has argued for years that productions such as War Horse and The Lion King achieve impressive effects without exploiting animals.

While live animals have been featured in British stage productions into recent years, welfare standards were reportedly maintained. For example, in 2018, the National Theatre introduced snakes in Antony and Cleopatra, providing them a carefully managed habitat with proper lighting and temperature control.

In its statement, the Royal Ballet and Opera stressed the decision followed a thorough review and reiterated its commitment to continually improving its practices. By retiring live animals from performances, the company joins other leading theaters internationally in adopting more modern and ethical approaches to production design.