Why horses are dying in the streets of Manhattan
The death of carriage horses not only hurts the horse, it puts our traveling loved ones in front of harm’s way.
The sound of heels clacking on the ground of New York City in addition to the champagne and historic aesthetic that comes with booking a carriage ride can be conceived as a wonderful atmosphere to be in. On August 10, 2022 this idealized aesthetic immediately shattered when bystanders witnessed Ryder, a carriage horse, suddenly collapse in Manhattan. Ryder was severely overheated, causing him to faint in the streets. The agony Ryder endured shows the consequences horses face working in improper settings. Ryder ended up dying after suffering a seizure from the brutal trauma of his collapse.
As a well educated and involved horse welfare advocate, I have identified three areas where horse protection laws can be more fully implemented to better contribute to the welfare of horses. Regardless if you are an avid traveler or live 500 miles away from a tourist destination, advocating for the expansion of horse protection laws is something everyone should do because without this change, carriage horses are subject to injuries which puts our traveling loved ones at risk. Let’s make carriage rides an excellent way to provide tourists with an experience that replicates traditional horse-drawn chariots in a humane manner.
In bustling cities such as New York and Charleston, horses pull carriages alongside honking yellow taxis. Horses are skittish creatures with self-defensive instincts which means loud noises can cause them to buck, kick, or bite and injure surrounding people or itself. I propose that horse protection laws limit carriage operation to areas with minimal mechanical congestion. An incident in Kansas City, MO highlights the harm that carriages can bring to bystanders and riders. When a carriage horse showed signs of being uncomfortable due to the bustling noises of the crowded streets, the horse began to gallop and crashed the carriage on a bridge, injuring the riders. Current Horse in NYC protection laws do not state any regulations as to where carriage operation can be conducted. The risk of harm and visual discretion can be eliminated by shifting this operation to Central Park in NYC rather than Midtown, Manhattan. Parks are less occupied with noisy mechanics and bystanders, limiting the possibility of a spooked horse injuring itself or people. The tourists that are harmed in carriage rides are just like our families, individuals who seek a unique experience and do not deserve to sacrifice their safety to see something beautiful.
Pedestrians in New York City that see the tidy, equipped, and conditioned stables located on West 52nd Street that house carriage horses may believe these conditions are all horses need to live a healthy life. Dr. Mark T. Jorden, DVM stated he was surprised with what he saw: “The horses were housed in comfortable, clean, spacious box stalls, which allowed them to lie down in comfortable dry bedding.” The issue with these stables is that they lack turnout pastures and fresh air that contribute to the wellbeing of horses. According to a Equine health blog regarding “Grazing Benefits Horses and Managers’’, Kentucky Equine Research Staff write: “Horses that are turned out on pasture generally have fewer vices, lower rates of colic, and a decreased incidence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease compared to horses kept in stalls. Free-choice pasture exercise is necessary for proper development of the skeletons of young horses and decreases signs of arthritis in older horses.” Although horses in the carriage industry have spacious stalls, they do not gain access to pasture where they can exercise and naturally graze. I propose that protection laws enforce a requirement of pasture space providing multiple acres of land. Current Horse in NYC Protection laws state it is mandatory for horses to have a minimum of 7 ft stall space. By adding a pasture space requirement in addition to this law, horses can gain environmental necessities that contribute to their health. Imagine being a 1,000 lb animal unable to exit its own isolated space solely until it is required to carry a 1,800 lb carriage without being able to let loose, that is the reality of life for these horses without pasture.
I have observed the ways in which retired carriage horses are sold to slaughter industries at the US Horse Welfare and Rescue in Avon, Connecticut. Many horses have come in beaten up and emotionally damaged from these slaughter industries where they are killed for their meat and skinned. Money from sold horses goes directly into the carriage operator’s pocket. Many carriage companies in the Northeast sell horses to cruel kill pens in Southern America, a popular one is Bastrop Louisiana Kill Pen. From there, horses are inhumanely trafficked (living in urine and fecal matter) to Mexico and Canada where they are brutally slaughtered while wide awake. Current Horse in NYC Protection laws state no guidelines for monitoring what happens to retired horses. My proposal for preventing the influx of carriage horses in kill pens is to add a horse protection law that details strict regulation of where retired horses can be sold to in addition to requiring profit to be directed to equine rescue organizations. Protection acts must begin monitoring the barns and farms where retired horses are being sent to, ensuring these establishments are suitable. I propose that 50% of revenue gained from selling a retired horse to a farm must be given to horse rescues because carriage companies will be more willing to give their retired horses to rescues.
Misty, Whitney, Ryder, and Jerry are a few horses that have faced horrific outcomes as a result of poorly enforced horse protection acts; their names have no significance unless we begin the process of enacting change by altering and better implementing horse protection laws. Let’s begin protecting our friends and families who travel and risk danger on the streets as well as the innocent horses who currently face inhumane and unendurable conditions. By setting an example in New York City, we can prioritize equine welfare within the horse-drawn carriage industry and inspire future change elsewhere.
References
Basile, Tracy. “When Ryder Fell, NYC’s Carriage Horse Industry Moved (Again) into the Spotlight.” The Village Voice, 5 Oct. 2022, https://www.villagevoice.com/2022/10/04/when-ryder-fell-nycs-carriage-horse-industry-moved-again-into-the-spotlight/.
“Bodily Injury Archives.” Charleston Carriage Horse Advocates, 6 Oct. 2022, https://charlestoncarriagehorseadvocates.com/category/bodily-injury/.
Brito, Christopher. “Ryder, the Carriage Horse Who Collapsed on a New York City Street in August, Has Died.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, 18 Oct. 2022, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ryder-carriage-horse-died-new-york-city-collapse/.
“Horses Working in NYC Rental Horse Licensing And Protection Law.” Horses Working in NYC — NYC Health, https://www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/horses.page.
Jordan, Dr. Mark. “Vet: Carriage Horses Are Healthy, Happy and Well Cared For.” New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2019, https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/vet-carriage-horses-healthy-happy-cared-article-1.1763149.
Nir, Sarah Maslin. “Viral Video of Horse Collapse Reignites Debate: Do Carriages Belong?” The New York Times, The New York Times, 21 Sept. 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/21/nyregion/carriage-horses-new-york.html.
O’Brien, Shannon. “Carriage Rider Describes Hanging on for Life, Driver’s Heroics during Terrifying Trip on Plaza.” FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports, FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports, 5 Dec. 2016, https://fox4kc.com/news/carriage-rider-describes-hanging-for-life-drivers-heroics-during-terrifying-trip-on-plaza/.
Pascoe, Elaine. “Stall vs. Pasture.” Practical Horseman, 11 Dec. 2017, https://practicalhorsemanmag.com/health-archive/stall-vs-pasture/.
Sorge, Frank, “Stall vs. Pasture.” Practical Horseman, 11 Dec. 2017, https://practicalhorsemanmag.com/health-archive/stall-vs-pasture/.
Staff, Kentucky Equine Research. “Grazing Benefits Horses and Managers.” Kentucky Equine Research, 8 Mar. 2018, https://ker.com/equinews/grazing-benefits-horses-and-managers/.
Weisberg, Deborah. “Horse’s Collapse Brings Renewed Scrutiny to New York City Carriage Industry.” Lancaster Farming, 3 Dec. 2022, https://www.lancasterfarming.com/country-life/mid-atlantic-horse/horses-collapse-brings-renewed-scrutiny-to-new-york-city-carriage-industry/article_527ef830-718c-11ed-8c46-ab6db15973d3.html.
“What’s Wrong with Carriage Rides?” What’s Wrong With Carriage Rides? — Farm Animals Facts & News, 1 Dec. 2022, https://www.adoptananimalkits.com/advocate/farm-animals/params/post/1280839/whats-wrong-with-carriage-rides.
