Stop-and-frisk, universal pre-kindergarten, and paid sick leave: these are just a few of the issues which Mayor Bill de Blasio has tackled during his first 100 days in office. His eyes are now set on one more matter, the horse-drawn carriages in Central Park. As anticipated by de Blasio, when the year is up, rides on “electric, vintage-replica, tourist-friendly vehicles” will replace the Cinderella-like experiences currently provided by these horse carriages.
According to a Quinnipiac University poll, the majority of New Yorkers wants to continue the tradition of horse-drawn carriages in the city, but de Blasio and many animal rights activists are telling us that it is time to put the fairy tale away.
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Thomas Kinney, associate professor of history at Bluefield College in Virginia, says, “Ironically, Central Park was created as a venue for the carriages. It was a chance for people living in crowded urban areas to go for a drive in the country without leaving New York.” The debate of whether to continue the horse carriage rides in Central Park has been around since the 1980s, started by former New York mayor, Ed Koch, who also considered abandoning the industry.
To take an informed stand on one side of this issue, it is important to consider the conditions of the 220 horses hired to draw carriages in Central Park. Former president of the American Association of Equine Practitioners, Harry Werner, reflected, “In my view as an experienced equine veterinarian of 40 years — and after visiting the horses at work and at rest — all evidence points to a carriage horse industry that provides very good care for its horses.” On a visit to four horse stables in NYC, Werner was impressed by the comfortable lodgings given to the horses, the careful attention paid to fire safety, and the good quality of food available for the horses.
Steve Malone has been driving horse carriages since 1987 and says that “[NYC horses are] the only horses in this country that are regulated to get five weeks’ vacation.” As some people argue in favor of banning the carriages, five weeks’ vacation is more than well-deserved for the horses that work nine hour days while pulling heavy carriages and breathing in exhaust from nearby traffic.
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
If Mayor de Blasio does indeed follow through with his plans to eradicate horse-drawn carriages from Central Park, this will be the second time that cars have replaced horses as a mode of transportation in the city. Many do not think that we should abandon a popular tourist attraction that is a part of the city’s history and economy; furthermore, the idea of more cars in a city is not particularly exciting to native New Yorkers.
Those who have enjoyed New York City carriage rides can attest to the importance of interactions between humans and horses. One such horse enthusiast is actor Liam Neeson. Neeson has been very vocal about his support for keeping horses in the city. His opinion comes from his own heart-warming experiences with horses growing up in Ireland. Neeson muses, “We should ask whether this is the New York we want to live in: a sanitized metropolis, where local color and grit are thrown out in favor of sleek futuristic buildings and careening self-driving cars.”
On the other hand, Holly Cheever, Vice President of the New York State Humane Association, maintains that horses endure inhumane conditions in Manhattan. The photographs she has seen prove that horses lack properly sized stables, clean water, and good quality hay. She has also spoken about the troubles that a city like New York presents to a horse, noting how the environment in and of itself, embedded with traffic and other external stimuli, spooks horses and results in dangerous accidents.
Some New York-based organizations, such as People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), NYCLASS, and the ASPCA, are convinced that the city can never be a place for horses simply because of the hard concrete that they must walk on, the fumes that they inhale from the city air which could lead to respiratory problems, and the congested traffic.
One of Hewitt’s own equestrians, Savannah Stone ’15, supports abandoning horse-drawn carriages: “I began riding horses at a very young age, so it has become a part of who I am. From riding to competing to just working in the barn with horses, I love it all. Horses are prey animals, and most wouldn’t ever harm you intentionally, but because of their size, they are often seen as a threat. In their ‘fight or flight’ responses, nine times out of 10, they choose ‘flight.’ This is why I feel that New York City traffic is no place for a horse.”
Further, Savannah notes that “the horse industry, no matter where you are or who you ride with, is extremely corrupt. It’s extremely rare to find people, even trainers, who don’t see horses as machines. The thing is, horses are very high maintenance and can cost absurd amounts of money to maintain properly. With things like the horse drawn carriage industry in New York, I really don’t think the necessary precautions are taken. Horses are not meant to walk on concrete, and doing so really destroys their hooves. The long hours they work are awful. I do think it’s insanely inhumane. ”
The most recent accident with a horse in NYC occurred on September 26, 2013. A horse that should not have been on the street because of earlier signs of strange behavior, ran through Midtown and flipped his carriage, trapping himself underneath. Fortunately, the horse was later freed. The last death of a horse was in 2007 when a horse named Smoothie was spooked and died of shock.
Given the few instances of horse deaths, New York City is unevenly split between supporters wanting to keep the horse-drawn carriages and those who want to get rid of this seemingly archaic tradition. There are rivaling petitions to save and ban the industry.
Which side are you on?
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