According to a story by AP writer Michael Gormley, New York's Governor David Paterson is in favor of banning carriage horses from Central Park unless their treatment improves. According to Mr. Paterson's spokeswoman, Marissa Shorenstein, the Governor wants to see "more humane treatment of horses that have often suffered due to difficult work conditions."
And that's potentially good news for the approximately 220 carriage horses that are made to work nine-hour shifts, seven days a week, in blistering heat, blinding rain, and frigid cold, pulling the famed hansom cabs around the periphery of the storied park.
According to a 2009 investigation by Animals' Angels USA, the New York City carriage horses are kept in five stables, on the far west side of Manhattan. They must bravely weave their way through treacherous, noisy streets, in daylight and in darkness. These workhorses are typically confined in cramped, straight stalls, in old buildings, sometimes on the second and third floors. It is doubtful that they would have even a chance of escape in the event of a fire.
The Animals' Angels investigation uncovered evidence that many of the horses are not only underweight, but also have untreated sores and urine-stained skin. They are made to stand on hard, concrete floors that put unrelenting pressure on their legs and on their feet; there is no room for them to turn around or lie down.
At the end of their days, these horses are spent and broken down, and many are shipped to auctions where they will be purchased by "kill buyers" and shipped to a Canadian slaughterhouse. The Humane Society of New York runs a special adoption program for carriage horses, but most of these wonderful creatures will meet a much harsher fate.
For more information:
Animals' Angels Video Overview of their Carriage Horse Investigation
Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages
Horses Without Carriages International
Comments
Dear Maureen: Please contact me about this article -
Elizabeth Forel / Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages / NYC
coalition@banhdc.org. Thank you.
Part I
Put down the Kool-Aid, Maureen, and do a little fact-checking.
The Governor is a DISGRACE - he has never set foot in one of our stables, and knows nothing about our business or the lives of our horses, yet he proceeds to try and hurt a legal, licensed, and well-operated iconic NYC business.
The welfare of the horses is what the decent-minded, casual observer is truly interested in, and for good reason. The horse-drawn carriages are a New York City icon; they are ambassadors to our visitors, and the horses themselves are working animals that are entitled to proper care and good handling. Fortunately, our record reflects exactly that.
Our horses lead exceedingly reasonable and content lives. They each receive a superior, formulated diet, occupy roomy box stalls, receive vet & farrier care, and are groomed and bathed regularly. This amounts to food, shelter, and medical care - which many CHILDREN in this state do not have, Mr. Governor!
Part II
Beyond these basics, they are loved by their owners/drivers; they receive affection, treats, and human interaction everyday.Every stable has a sprinkler system in case of fire, and every stable has 24/7 stablemen. We are overseen by 5 city agencies, and not one WEEK goes by (and sometimes, day) that our horses are not checked by the ASPCA or the Dept of Health. (Let’s see Child Protective Services match that record, MR. GOVERNOR!)
Part III
The horses receive rotation turnout several times a year on farms in both Upstate NY and PA.
If he even bothered to lift a phone before bashing us, he could have called the Mayor's Office and found that not only are we as an industry proactive in constant improvements, but that there is a Horse Rental Advisory board set up by the city to field any problems.
Anybody hell-bent on putting carriages out of business should hop on down to the auction & buy a slaughter-bound horse and care for it for the rest of its natural life. That would actually be doing something to help the horses, not hurt them.
The epidemic of abandoned horses across the country is due to what is being called a “perfect storm” of a slow economy, highfeed prices, & recent national outlawing of slaughterhouses. This is a mammoth crisis - 1000s of horses being left to waste away in fields & paddocks, or surrendered to over-crowded rescues.
Part IV
Closing down a business where horses lead content & exceedingly reasonable existences will only ADD to this problem. A well-loved, cared-for horse with a job is a lucky horse, the very last to feel a recession.
As an "Equine Advocacy Examiner", relying on humaniac groups with a radical agenda does not behoove you.
Dear Eva, I mean Flynn, the truth will finally come out. Even all the animal-haters that are all around will want to see some justice when they discover about the fraudulent and illegal overcharging that goes on every day in your cash-only industry.
Paterson - hamstrung by multiple scandals - will most likely have to resign in disgrace.
Never should have messed with the carriages LOL, we are the kiss of death for all comers! LMAO
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