Writing Alert: Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages in NYC

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Writing Alert: Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages in NYC IDA Home | Action Center Home | Donate | Sign Up! | Tell a Friend Writing Alert: Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages in NYC On April 10th, the New York Sun published two editorials on the issue of horse carriages in New York City. One, by ASPCA president and CEO Edwin Sayres, supports a ban on the horse carriage industry because of the suffering it causes to equines. The other, by an editor at the Sun, paints a deceptively rosy picture of the horse-drawn carriage industry, deriding legitimate animal welfare concerns and spuriously claiming that "...carriage horses are among the most cared for, regulated, and loved horses who have ever poked an oft-nuzzled nose into a feed bag." Unfortunately, advocates for horses used to

pull carriages have been battling this myth for decades. Why did an audit by the City Comptroller say that the horses used to pull carriages in New York City suffer some of the worst conditions of any working animal? Why are drivers allowed to whip horses to make them move? Why is the average lifespan of a carriage horse in New York City only four years, compared (for example) to 15 years for a mounted Manhattan police horse? Why is it that when carriage horses are too worn out or injured to work anymore, many are sent to slaughterhouses where they are killed for meat? The Sun editorial does not answer or even address these questions, revealing a bias that blinds the writer from seeing the obvious –

that it is wrong to force horses to drag carriages and passengers through New York City's asphalt streets as thousands of cars, buses, trucks, and motorcycles speed past belching exhaust into the horses' faces. It endangers the safety and lives of both animals and people, and perpetuates a "tradition" that is nothing more than a cruel anachronism. It is time for New York City to follow the lead of other world-class cities – including Paris, London, and Toronto – that long ago banned horse-drawn carriages from their streets. Please write a letter to the editor of the Sun explaining why the carriage horse industry needs to be banned in New York City. Email letters to

editor or fax them to (212) 608-7348. Be sure to include your full name, address, and phone number so the paper can contact you if they choose to publish your letter. You will have the best chance of publication if your letter is 250 words or less. Here are some talking points to consider: - Horses forced to pull carriages often walk in bumper-to-bumper traffic, breathing exhaust fumes all day long, which causes serious respiratory problems. Constantly walking on hard concrete also contributes to hoof and leg disorders. - Horses used in the carriage industry don't have access to enough fresh water in the

summertime, making dehydration, heat exhaustion, and other more serious problems commonplace. - Horses are easily startled by loud noises. This has led to accidents, injuries, and even horse deaths. Horse-drawn carriages also impede the smooth flow of traffic, making it especially difficult for emergency vehicles to pass through quickly and safely. - The report referred to in the Sun editorial by veterinarian John Lowe is suspect because it was commissioned by the Horse and Carriage Industry Association, an industry lobbying group, after the comptroller's audit was issued. In addition, Lowe's conclusions are based on insufficient data because he spent only a single day examining horses, and looked at only a hand-picked fraction of the 221 carriage horses working in New York

City. - The Sun editorial implies that the carriage horse industry should be allowed to continue because it "has been legal for centuries." If our forebears had followed this logic, cruel institutions like slavery and child labor would still be legal in the U.S.

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