NYC to Consider Horse-Drawn Carriage Ban

AP via MyWay ^ | Dec 8, 7:27 AM (ET) | SARA KUGLER

[ECM]

NEW YORK (AP) - The horse-drawn carriages that clip clop around Central Park could be banned under City Council legislation to be introduced at the urging of animal advocates who say the horses are treated inhumanely.

Councilman Tony Avella, who plans to introduce the bill next Wednesday, said the horses that have entertained tourists and New Yorkers for decades are exposed to cruel conditions and are at risk of injury or death as they weave through city traffic.

In September, a horse died after it was spooked by street musicians with drums and bolted down Central Park South. It was the second such incident in less than two years.

[Ann Archy]

NOTHING makes a city seem LIVABLE and LOVABLE like Horse Drawn Carriages! Last night in Seattle they were out in full force!

[Graybeard58]

A devious plot to keep the Amish out.

[eyedigress]

"We can't breathe back here!

[hinckley buzzard]

In September, a horse died after it was spooked by street musicians with drums

Keep the horses and ban the damn "street musicians."

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

Thank you for that. You are not going to believe that just a couple of days ago I was trying think of the punch line to that joke.

Again, thank you.

[444Flyer]

“Keep the horses and ban the “street musicians.”

Not gonna happen.

(Just call me Cujo.)

[jonrick46]

"the horses work in an area without enough water spigots, shade or drains for their waste - and without enough oversight by authorities.

This is about an effort for more government control. The horses tradition is being made hostage to increase the paper shufflers and inspectors. If they wanted to get rid of the horses, they would used other issues. I am surprised they didn't use the Global Warming mantra. The idea that horses cause greenhouse gasses with their methane emissions would be a typical ploy. Why people use such a huge amount of creative ability creating ways to regulate other people's lives is beyond reason. What a waste.

[pollywog]

I have heard everything now.!!!

[traviskicks]

Libertarian ping! To be added or removed from my ping list freepmail me or post a message here.

[peggybac]

I have to admit that it bothers me to see these horses pulling tons of people around in the cold and snow with all the traffic around them.

[MinnesotaLibertarian]

The last time I was in New York, I was driving down 2nd Ave. and almost hit some spandex-clad biker riding in the middle of the street. We have a big problem with “urban bikers” in Minneapolis. Why do these idiots think that they are cars?

[purpleraine]

LOL!

[Cold Heart]

It’s called work. It was what horses and people are supposed to do.

[AliVeritas]

And cars... unless they’re the elite’s.

[AliVeritas]

Never happen, messengers remember.

[RayChuang88]

However, even bike messengers are increasingly obsolete as email and high-definition fax machines can send messages even faster.

[MotleyGirl70]

Too funny. That’s a great episode.

[go-ken-go]

Watching a horse walk down the street at 10 - 11pm, with his head down, looking like he is just barely moving along, was enough to put a damper on the evening for me. Pathetic looking.

[thefactor]

the problem is, these things are allowed to go on the city streets at all times! traffic is bad enough.

i think they should be stabled in central park at one location and only allowed in the park. that's the only place anyone wants to take them anyway. some of these horses are stabled as far away as 36th street and 11th avenue!

as for the conditions i cannot speak to them. but they are a nuisance on the streets. stay in the park and have fun!

[peggybac]

“Watching a horse walk down the street at 10 - 11pm, with his head down, looking like he is just barely moving along, was enough to put a damper on the evening for me. Pathetic looking.”

I agree - It breaks my heart.