August 12, 2022
Paws Up!
NYC Councilmember Robert Holden is advocating to end the use of horses to pull carriages in Central Park with the introduction of Int. No. 573.
What comes to your mind when you think of horses and what they require to live happy and healthy lives? Did grazing in green pastures come to your mind or galloping in fields with other horses? What about when you think of New York City? What comes to mind? Did you think of museums, the theater, delicious food, and crowded streets with honking vehicles? You probably did not envision horses amidst the city life. Encountering a horse pulling a carriage in Central Park may look nostalgic, but these beautiful creatures look foreign and out of place when paired with the city’s busy streets.
Some feel that carriage rides in Central Park are part of the history of NYC. The massive 840-acre park may seem like an idyllic location for horses to spend their days as they clip-clop through the park, but is it? Do regulations exist to protect them? Yes, there are regulations, but are they enough? Some laws include: how long a horse can work, time off, veterinary care, and specific temperatures when they cannot work. According to the N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§17-330(g)(1) to 17-330(g)(2), carriage horses are only allowed to work up to nine hours in 24 hours. When they aren’t working, the horses need at least five weeks of vacation a year “at a horse stable facility which allows daily access to paddock or pasture turnout.” Concerning veterinary care and unsafe temperatures, the N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 17-330(n), 17-330(o)(1) to 17-330(o)(2) states that routine checkups are to be done “at intervals of not less than four months and not greater than eight months,” and, they cannot work when temperatures exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit or are below 18 degrees Fahrenheit.
Recently, in the news, a carriage horse stumbled to the ground amidst sweltering temperatures in August and could not get back up. The New York City Police Department came to the horse’s aide. Upon observation, the cause of the collapse was unknown, but to onlookers, the sight was distressing to witness. Some thought the heat might be a factor or dehydration. After some time, the horse was loaded into a trailer to return to the stable. It is reported that a veterinarian looked at the horse, and the diagnosis was deemed a neurological condition resulting from contact with opossum excrement. This instance makes some pose the question, could this have been avoided? Is it time to stop carriage rides in Central Park?
In a news article last month, NYC Councilmember Robert Holden seeks to prohibit horse-drawn carriage rides and replace them with electric carriages. What do you think about the introduction of Int. No. 573? Please share your thoughts by taking our poll:
Take Action: New York City residents, if you believe that horse-drawn carriage rides should be stopped, please show your support by contacting your city representative today!