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HORSE SENSE
Periodic updates about issues and actions concerning New York City's Carriage Horses +
Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages
www.banhdc.org
Horses Without Carriages International
www.horseswithoutcarriages.org
PLEASE FORWARD TO LISTS, FRIENDS & COLLEAGUES ** Dec. demos & events ** anti-carriage horse article ** Letter to the editor ** Horse-Mouse Pads ** iGive ** Jakarta - take action please!! ** New Facebook Page **
CARRIAGE HORSE DEMO ON DEC. 4TH
to commemorate Horses Without Carriages International
Yesterday we had a very good turnout to protest the horse-drawn carriages. Activists around the world were doing the same on Horses Without Carriages International Day. If anyone saw this on TV, please let me know - coalition@banhdc.org. There are many reasons why we demonstrate - one is to dissuade potential customers from taking a ride. There are so many other things to do in NYC and Central Park and we were all successful in getting our message through. Once someone is in a carriage, it is generally too late. The poster carried by this activist reads "There is no excuse for animal abuse - ban horse-drawn carriages." Please go to Facebook No Walk in the Park to see more photos from yesterday.
During this holiday season from Thanksgiving to New Year's, tourists line up to take a carriage ride. The horses are run ragged. Because of this, we will be planning a few other demos this season. But most importantly, we are doing smaller direct ones throughout the month. These are not so much demos as opportunities to educate and explain to people why they should not support this industry. We will hold special posters and hand out literature.
These events are not open because we want to control the numbers. If you are interested, please get in touch with Paola at volunteerforthecoalition@gmail.com We would like to do this as often as possible but need volunteers.
ANOTHER ANTI-CARRIAGE HORSE ARTICLE
in Xomba
New York's Carriage Drivers May Finally Be Run Out of Town - Xomba - December 1, 2010 - The romance of a horse-drawn carriage ride is lost on veterinarian Brendan Furlong. In a column, Furlong recounts the bleak life faced by carriage horses.
(H)orses now have to deal with heavy automobile traffic, motorbikes, cyclists, roller-bladers, skateboarders, hordes of pedestrians and endless noise and confusion. The roads are hard and slippery. There are traffic lights, flashing lights and sirens. Simply put, this bombardment of his sensory system causes the horse extreme stress. Add to that the physical toil of pulling a heavy carriage around for up to nine hours a day, often without adequate rest, shade or shelter, and you must understand why this is asking too much of these beautiful animals.
Now comes hope that the brutal practice may be ended. New York City Council Member Melissa Mark-Viverito has introduced a bill known as Intro 86, which if passed will ban carriage horses in the city by June 2012. Replacing the horses will be environmentally friendly antique-replica show cars. Those holding carriage licenses will receive preference for the show car licenses.
The fate of horses that become too old or ill to pull a carriage full of tourists depends on whom you ask. While opponents of the industry say the horses are destined for the slaughterhouse, stable owners claim the animals are sent to bucolic farms to live out their years munching clover. The New York Times followed a horse named Billy, retired from a New York stable. There was no country life in store for Billy, who was on an auction block in New Holland, Pa. when the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages raised enough money to save the horse. Later an examination at an equine hospital painted a picture of a hard and neglected life.
A veterinarian found two kinds of worms and fairly serious lameness in his right front limb - "consistently head nodding lame," the vet's report said.
Billy's teeth had also been allowed to grow long and sharp -- horses need their teeth filed down from time to time or it becomes painful and difficult for them to eat.
It was a happy ending for Billy, who joined 80 other horses, ponies and mules at Equine Advocates in Chatham, N.Y., where he'll spend the rest of his life on the farm's 140 acres. But Billy's rescue was the exception, as there is not enough money or resources to save every carriage horse.
Veterinarian Brendan Furlong believes citizen action is the solution to ending the suffering of carriage horses.
(S)end a letter to the New York City Council in support of Intro 86. Just as importantly, the next time you're planning your next romantic night out in Manhattan, consider your full range of options-including the theater, world-class restaurants and countless nightlife possibilities. There are plenty of ways to enjoy a night on the town, without adding to the burden of an already-suffering creature. Let's make sure together, that your romance doesn't become his nightmare.
LETTERS-TO-THE-EDITOR
Ourtown & West Side Spirit
December 1, 2010 - Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages - Thanks to Mr. Furlong for his excellent opinion piece about NYC's carriage horses ("Don't Let Your Romance Become His Nightmare," Nov. 25).
We started the campaign to ban horse-drawn carriages in NYC in January 2006 after the tragic death of Spotty, who was killed in a spooking accident. Horses, do not belong on heavily trafficked city streets.
The leaders of the carriage industry would be wise to look into any investment opportunities the proposed electric car industry has for them. The end of the carriage trade in NYC is coming-if for no other reason than the development of the far west side, which will do away with the stables.
Horses are herd animals and need the experience to graze on grass daily, to hang out with other horses, to mutually groom each other to relieve stress. They do not get that. They come from the constraints of their carriage and heavy tack to a small stall-to start the process all over again the next day. Legally, they are allowed to work nine hours a day, seven days a week. The 15-minute breaks mandated every two hours are impossible to enforce. No one is there to monitor it. Elizabeth Forel
HORSE-MOUSE PADS FOR THE HOLIDAYS
plus other neat stuff to ban horse-drawn carriages
If you are looking for an unusual gift or just want one for yourself - we have three beautiful custom designed mouse pads featuring Bobby, Monty and Teddy - three former carriage horses now living the good life at Equine Advocates and Central New England Equine Rescue respectively.
And we have other stuff too to get the message out. Dan Piraro - Bizzaro t-shirts; mugs, bumper stickers - even doggie tees. Please note that we have three separate stores because of Cafe Press restrictions about offering the same product with different designs in one store.
To reach any of the three stores - either click on the names above - i.e. "Bobby" - or click below.
BUY THROUGH iGIVE AND HELP OUR CAMPAIGN
very easy and no charge
iGive is a special free service that will help the charity of your choice when you buy merchandise on line. In this case, we hope you choose us. There are over 700 stores that include such popular ones as Amazon.com, Staples, Best Buy and Barnes & Nobles. Even Cafe Press is available if you purchase some of our merchandise.
Click on this link for an explanation for how it works. See the video by "Betty." You will have to register.
We are listed under Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages.
Thanks to your generosity, we have ads out this month in City Guide, which targets the NYC tourist trade. We hope to place ads directed to New Yorkers in other publications this year. It is so important to keep getting the word out in any way we can.
JAKARTA - HELL ON EARTH FOR CARRIAGE HORSES
Please take action -- send e-mail per article
Suffering of carriage horses continue - 12/3/2010 -- This is an excerpt from the blog: After many years within animal rescue work, I am convinced that some of the worst cruelty I see here in Jakarta is that inflicted on the carriage horses. The owners of the horses hardly have any idea how to care for the horses that provide them their daily livelihood. The horses work hard to feed the owner, not the other way around. The owners just want to avoid any expenses and workload and still use the horses to run and pull the heavy carriages in the streets of Jakarta. Cruel? It sure is. Suffering? This is pure suffering.
The carriage horse owners in Jakarta are aware that JAAN is providing free veterinary care and as they have no idea where else to go to, or how to treat their own horses, JAAN receives phone calls weekly about horses in trouble. Unfortunately, most of the treatments we provide are for things that could have been avoided if only the owner knew better how to care for its own horse.
Please click on the blog link for Jakarta Animal Aid Network and take the action requested. The cruelty toward horses in this country must not be tolerated. Please help. JAAN is a member of Horses Without Carriages International.
ILLEGAL OR EXCEPTION?
Jolie and Pitt take carriage ride in the wrong direction
Someone sent me these pictures from Saturday, December 4th in Central Park. He noticed a carriage traveling in the wrong direction at 84th St. and the West Drive at 3:21 PM and photographed it. This person is opposed to horse-drawn carriages and is not a celebrity buff. But look who is in the carriage and getting special treatment. Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt. Pitt was seen a few years ago with one of his daughters in a carriage. I guess they just don't get it. The NYPD was present along with what appeared to be plain clothes men or body guards.
This person asks a very legitimate question: why was the NYPD who cries constantly that they do not have enough staff to police illegal drugs etc used to arrange such a fickle non-important occasion? Yes I would like to know that also.
NEW FACEBOOK PAGE - WORKED TO DEATH
carriage horse videos - a must see
This is a new carriage horse page available on Facebook. It is called Worked to Death. If you are on facebook, sign in and "like it." If you are not on facebook, please consider starting a personal page. It is as inane or as stimulating as you want it to be.
JOIN US ON FACE BOOK & SIGN ONLINE PETITION
See our Facebook page called No Walk in the Park. And while you are there, please join another anti carriage horse page by a colleague called 212HorsePower
"Never doubt that a small group of
thoughtful, committed citizens can change the
world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever
has." Margaret Mead.
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Thank you for caring about the horses,
Elizabeth Forel - Coalition to Ban
Horse-Drawn Carriages - a standing committee
of The Coalition for New York City Animals,
Inc.
Please DONATE
to our campaign to ban
the inhumane and unsafe carriage horse industry.
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