Wild horse photo copyright Jim Roberson
Most New York City Council members remain largely undecided about a possible ban of the horse-drawn carriages of Central Park.
While New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio is pushing ahead with his campaign promise to ban the carriages, the move also pits him against the labor unions that helped propel him to office.
The issue is a highly contested one. The mayor has supporters in animal-rights groups on one side, and on the other are the city’s unions, which have expressed concerns about job losses if the horses are banned.
About 350 workers are employed by the carriage industry, which is represented by the Teamsters Local 553.
What’s your take on horse-drawn carriages in Central Park? Vote for the horses here:
http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2014/12/03/poll-should-horse-drawn-carriages-be-banned/
Exposing the Big Game 
Jim – I’ve no opinion on this except to say that if carriages are banned, the horses will likely all end up at the slaughterhouse. Maybe I would opt for better living conditions for the horses who likely have a much better life than those here in the West that stand in a tiny pasture – too small to run in – on a ranchette. I see horses and other animals w/o any protection from the summer sun or rain and winter snow and no one seems to question it. Our horses had thousands of acres to graze and run. They were lucky. Lynne
If you put out an action alert for horses in the west who stand in tiny pastures or corrals, unprotected from the sun or snow, I’d be glad to pass it on. As I told Roger, I had horses who pulled my groceries on a car hood (which I used as makeshift sleigh) in to my cabin in the winter. This poll is for horses who are made to live in NY city and are only allowed to stretch their legs except on paved roads in traffic.
We had a horse rescue here for the poor horses confined to pipe corrals. It is incredibly difficult to help these horses out of these conditions as the animal control has such minimal requirements for acceptable care. And of course one must abide the law. It drives me crazy because I have to drive by these animals everyday and we can’t just yank them out of their prisons. Still people keep large ungulates in small spaces no matter our protests. It is true that the exercise allowed the carriage horse would be better than standing all day in one place. But it is just another dark blessing.
I have had horse drawn carriage business: weddings, hay rides, horse trolley historical tours, and else. We often felt looked at scornfully by what I would call “Bambi people” who, although they meant well, did not know anything about horses, what is cruel and what is not, what is hard for them and what is not, how well they were treated, or even what good treatment is, and is not, not much about horse physiology, healthfulness of using a horse versus standing in a paddock, exercise versus standing around, what shoes they should be wearing. They just saw a horse pulling something and thought, “Oh no!”. We had a horse trolley which pulled so easily that we demonstrated for the public with two women in high heals could pull it. Horses are healthier and happier in use. I feel guilty about my horses no, 4 of them, because I did not ride or train much in the past year. I have looked at the hay and facilities and the horses and their hooves of wild horses taken off the range; range then turned over to ranchers; and I disagree with this vehemently. But the hay looked good, the horses looked healthy (coats and hooves) yet well meaning but ignorant one were taking pictures of what they thought was cruelty, which is in the sense that horses were taken from wild existence, and some or many may go to slaughter; but the onlookers were obviously ignorant about all else.. So, I have mixed thoughtds and feelings about the issue: I have been n the glass bowl with ignorant onlookers.
I had horses who pulled my groceries on a car hood (which I used as makeshift sleigh) into my cabin in the winter. This poll is for horses who are made to live in NY city and are only allowed to stretch their legs on paved roads in traffic.
Agree.
It’s very dangerous on unforgiving pavement, and with so much traffic, noise and car exhaust – if they could work in Central Park only I would feel better about it. Impatient drivers can be real jerks, I’ve also witnessed that – an impatient jerk who couldn’t wait for the horse carriage, started having a conniption fit behind the wheel, then banged a U-turn in the middle of the street. If the horses could be away from traffic and automobile fumes, it would be better.
It’s a very unnatural existence. I wouldn’t expect a poor horse to cart my ass around NYC, that’s for sure.
Absolutely correct. I have never ridden a horse for the same reason. Can’t bear to put a bit in their tender mouths.
And another thing – I am sick to death of hearing people whine about jobs (losing and creating) as an excuse to do unethical things. It’s a good thing we’re not still living in Nazi times, otherwise people would be complaining that they were out of a job, when they were defeated!!!!
I agree…the unethical slave drivers. Time to get rid of the whole lot of this carriage business trolley and historical and wedding nonsense. What kind of person does that? Another ignorant whiner who’s making a profit. Let’s ask the horse how they like the conditions on the streets of NYC and how they are all tethered up and under the whip command hauling useless humans around. And I have a hunch Roger is another meat eater too. Don’t let me get started working myself into a tiz I need another cup of coffee.
One more thing before I finish my coffee… My family had a cattle ranch and they also had a show horse ranch. I spent my summers as a child on the horse ranch. One evening I witnessed an horrific beating of one of the show stallions by my uncle Carlos. He saddled up and put in a terrible bit and had on his spurs and used a thick hand whip. It was twilight and the horse was screaming and pawing the air. I remember there was a red blaze of setting sun. Carlos thought the horse’s spirit needed to be broken. I was terrified and deeply sickened and the memory stayed with me all my life. I was a ten year old girl and if I had a gun I would have blown that bastard uncle sky high. But the grim reaper did me a favor and Carlos is long gone dead but not before one of the stallions gave him some payback karma. He was dragged by a roped stallion all over hell and gone and lost two fingers on his right hand. I am a little sensitive about all this horse slave stuff you see.
I might as well finish off my rant. Our show horses looked spectacular. They were well cared for and their hooves were well tended. They had plenty of exercise too. And delicious hay and sweet grain. They were all groomed and polished up. They did parades so they were not all that different than the working carriage horses in NYC now were they? They had everything they needed and much more than the grungy range horse. They were the chosen ones. And my family made some pretty good money from this enterprise. Plenty of money. So when they needed a beating Carlos had to be careful not to mar the goods. But they were healthy and happy to be used. Thank you Roger…I never thought of it that way.