Fact Sheets

CARRIAGE HORSES
Fact Sheet

The carriage horse industry has been banned in many major European cities. The reasons vary, but most commonly cited are:

1. horses spending hours breathing in heavy exhaust fumes,

2. risk of serious injury or death in a traffic accident,

3. poor or inadequate stabling,

4. little care or no veterinary care,

5. poor hoof care, and

6. a life of drudgery, boredom, overwork and depression, and

7. forced to endure extreme outdoor temperatures and weather conditions.

City officials became convinced, because of a steady stream of complaints from concerned citizens and tourists, that the lives of carriage horses were indeed abysmal, and they could not improve their lives, no matter how much the trade is regulated.

 

Since we first published a report on the abuses historically inherent to the horse drawn carriage industry, we have received numerous communications from a wide spectrum of people.

Individuals call or write to complain about what they see as a life of drudgery for these horses and instances of abuse, and and animal rights' organizations call for an out all ban on the practice.

Carriage operators state that this may have been the case five years ago, but this just is not the case now, particularly in New York City.

In the European cities where the industry still exists, research has revealed several encouraging trends:

1. Carriages are pulled by a team of two horses instead of one.

2. Horses employed in pulling carriages in cities outside the United States are required to wear horse "sneakers," or protective rubber coverings over their hooves. This protects their feet and cushions their impact on the concrete and cobbles of city streets.

3. There also appears to be a higher standard of required care monitored through more veterinarian inspections, including unannounced "spot checks."

None of these, however, deal with the issues that we are most interested in which are:

1. Weather conditions and temperatures horses are allowed or forced to work in.

2. Ample water available when they are working.

3. How many hours the horses are made to work.

4. Type stabling and annual turn outs for a rest.

5. Veterinary, dental and hoof care.