Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages

QUEENS LEDGER

1/31/08

Queens Councilman Speaks Out Against Horse-Drawn Carriages 

The carriage horse issue has been in the news a lot lately with the Pink billboard in Times Square asking people to "buck cruelty" and "say no to horse drawn carriage rides." After years of controversy, Council Member Tony Avella has heard our plea and introduced a bill that would ban horse-drawn carriages. It is about time. It had become clear that additional rules and regulations would make no difference in the lives of these dispirited horses. Nothing can change the fact that it is an inherently inhumane industry - from the horses shackled between the shafts of their carriages for nine hours straight, seven days a week in all kinds of weather extremes; breathing in car exhaust; pounding the hard pavement and suffering leg injuries; no opportunity to graze in pasture; many stalls too small to allow the horse to lie down comfortably - it's an image straight out of Black Beauty.

Mixing with the congestion of midtown Manhattan, these slow moving 19th century conveyances impede the flow of traffic and are a danger to both horses and people alike. There have been many accidents in which horses were both killed and injured - and people seriously injured. One wonders if it will take a human death before the City Council wakes up and does the right thing for these long suffering animals. Please contact your council member at www.council.nyc.gov and ask him or her to co-sponsor Intro 658. Let's make New York City humane and move it into the 21st century. Find out more about this issue at www.banhdc.org.

Sincerely, Elizabeth Forel - Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages