At least one reader objected to my post about the pony at Magic Gas.

Reader emailed: "There is nothing funny about that photo you posted or the article. It's called animal abuse to have a grown man on a small pony."

The rider did, in fact, look big on the pony. So this morning I called the production company, Smith and Jones Films, and the production manager, Gus Koufoulas, said a Humane Society monitor named Irene was present during the pony rides, as required by law, and did not object to the pony's rider.

Any film production that uses animals is required to have a special permit and be monitored by the Humane Society -- even for fish. That's when a camera is present. But I have been told that non-filmers don't need a permit to ride a horse, or pony, at Magic Gas, as it's still legal to ride horses/ponies on all of the streets around here.

*Edited post: reader's name removed at her request.