Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages

NY POST  
12/21/07

SEND HORSE CARRIAGES TO PASTURE:     
The arrest of horse and stable owner Cornelius Byrne on bribery charges. "Unbridled Bribery" (Dec. 14) further proves that the NYC horse-carriage industry is run by shady individuals. Horses do not belong in city traffic, as proved most recently by the death of Smoothie. These owners do not care about their horses, just about making money - a fact that they are trying desperately hard to disguise.  

Poornima Dasgupta Scarsdale ****

As investigations into allegations of abuse and exploitation of NYC carriage horses continue, it should become clear, even to those who have supported the industry, that the stable owners are as corrupt as the carriage horse's day is long and miserable. NYC politicians are happy to look the other way - with the exception of City Councilman Tony Avella. His courage in exposing the carriage-trade abusers is to be applauded.  

Merrilee Cichy Little Falls, NJ ****

Given that those who are clamoring to keep horses on New York City's streets are the people who make money by the horses' servitude, The Post's article should have been called, "Unbridled Greed." Drivers profit, horses perish.  

Philip Tripp Fort Erie, Canada ****

The following combination is very disturbing: Cornelius Byrne's unscrupulous behavior, the lucrative holiday season for the carriage drivers and the truly innocent horses' inability to speak for themselves.  

Catherine Gore Brooklyn ****

Now that a carriage-horse owner has been arrested for bribery, are we supposed to believe his claims that all is on the up-and-up in his stables? How does this instill faith in the industry? It doesn't. It only serves to reinforce the fact that something is amiss. Who's overseeing those who oversee the animals? Let's join the 21st century and end this pitiful exploitation of the horses.   

Judy Purcell Glen Oaks