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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 ** New bill to ban horse-drawn carriages ** Horses Without Carriages International - June 4th event ** AFS animal issues conference ** ** merchandise to buy and show your advocacy ** Inadequate stall sizes ** Cozumel
NYS SENATOR TONY AVELLA INTRODUCES BILL TO BAN HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES IN NYC
will formally announce at press conference on June 4th
New York State Senator Tony Avella recently introduced a new bill to ban horse-drawn carriages in New York City. This bill amends the NYC Administrative Code and is essentially the same as the historic bill, then-Council Member Avella introduced into the City Council in 2007. While the public and many tourists wanted to see that bill passed into law, it did not go anywhere largely due to our Mayor and Council leadership, which backs the small but politically connected carriage industry. The bill already has a sponsor in the Assembly - Assembly member Linda Rosenthal.
Please join the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages and other horse advocates for a press conference on Horses Without Carriages International Day:
- WHEN: Saturday June 4th at 12:00 Noon
- WHERE: north/east side of Central Park South and Fifth Avenue
- WHO: Tony Avella, Linda Rosenthal + others
PLEASE block out this time to come out and stand in solidarity with Tony, Linda and other activists for the horses. We need to show our legislators the strong support there is for this issue.
The bill is known as S5013 -- PROHIBITS THE OPERATION OF HORSE DRAWN CABS IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK. This is a link to the Senate web site so you can read it for yourself. Click Here. Please contact your State Senator to ask that they sign on to this bill. There is yet no number for the Assembly version but I will let you know (through this newsletter) as soon as there is.
picture: then Council Member Avella at one of our tabling events.
WE NEED A VIDEOGRAPHER
for June 4th event
If you are an experienced and very reliable videographer and would like to donate your services on June 4th, we need someone to videotape the entire press conference - sound and images - and be able to download it to an accessible site. Your time commitment would be approximately 11:30 to 1:00. If you can help us, please contact Elizabeth at coalition@banhdc.org.
NYC CARRIAGE HORSE STALLS ARE TOO SMALL
comments by experts
The NYC Administrative code was changed last year to require that carriage horse stalls be a minimum of 60 sq. ft. -- up from 48 sq. ft. The media jumped on this saying that it was a great improvement. From the NY Times article - At the same time, the bill mandates stalls large enough for the horses to turn around and lie down in. This size is inadequate and is one more reason why this business should be shut down. Experts recommend 144 sq. ft. for a standardbred and 196 sq. ft. minimum for the larger draft breeds. It is very unfortunate that the media took the Council Leadership's press release as fact. THIS IS WHAT TWO EXPERTS SAY.:
- Holly Cheever, DVM, is a world renowned expert on the carriage industry and supports a ban in NYC. No, 60 sq. feet is inadequate: considering a small box stall is 10' x 10' (100 square feet), the measurement you cite applies to tie or straight stalls, e.g. 10' x 6'---and this would not be adequate for comfortably stretching out when lying down. A 10' x 10' would work for a standardbred, but is too small for a draft horse's comfort.
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- Susan Wagner/Equine Advocates: At the very least the stalls should be 12 x 12...particularly since some of those horses are larger Draft breeds and Draft crosses. Bobby would not be comfortable in a 10 x 10 stall, much less one that was even smaller.
Note: Bobby II Freedom is the horse we helped rescued from the New Holland auctions last June. He has been living at Equine Advocates Sanctuary and enjoying his freedom. Read about him on their web site. Click Here. This is Bobby with friends - photo by Equine Advocates.
CARRIAGE HORSE TURNOUT - NYC STYLE
shameful
The carriage horses in NYC do not have turnout to pasture -- or even to an asphalt parking lot. They have nothing. The stables are multi storied warehouses in midtown Manhattan - inadequate for properly sized stalls and without any outside area. Many experts recommend daily turnout to pasture for horses at from one to two acres per horse.
Horses are herd animals and need to run, graze and interact with other horses, free from their confining tack. They need this time with their own species, mutually grooming each other to reduce stress. The "five-week vacation" provided for in last year's carriage industry sponsored legislation does not make up for the fact that they are prisoners for the other 47 weeks - legally allowed to work nine hours per day and seven days per week. This was another media hype.
When it comes to carriage horses, virtually every aspect of their lives - from stall size, work hours, food, lack of turnout - is done because it is less expensive and more convenient for their owner. Capitalism drives this industry -- not horse welfare.
Ernest M sent us this picture of a carriage horse tied up on 37th St. near the stable. Is this their answer to turnout? Shameful.
HORSES WITHOUT CARRIAGES INTERNATIONAL
Saturday, June 4, 2011 -- Save the Date
Twice a year - the first Saturday in June and the first Saturday in December - we stand in solidarity with activists in other countries for the horses. This year we have something big to celebrate -- a new bill to ban horse-drawn carriages - this time from the New York State legislature. PLEASE COME OUT AND SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE HORSES!!!!!!
In 2008, we started Horses Without Carriages International. This global coalition is made up of activists from many cities in the US, Canada, South America, Europe, the Mid East and South East Asia whose common goal is to expose the injustice, cruelty, and inhumanity in the horse-drawn carriage tourism trade. So far, we know that there will be rallies on June 4th in NYC, Chicago, Philadelphia, Rome, Vienna, Dublin and Gili Islands.
CONFERENCE INCLUDES PANEL ON HORSE ISSUES
June 25th and June 26th
The Anti Fur Society will hold their first ever conference on June 25th and 26th. It promises to be very interesting and a lot of fun. It takes place in Alexandria, Virginia, which is very close to Washington, DC.
- Check out the Program
- Check out the Speakers
- Register - Registration is FREE. If you choose, you can pay $40 for the vegan reception on Saturday night.
I will be on a panel about Horses called Horse exploitation: The Great Betrayal, speaking about the carriage horse issue. Speakers include:
- John Holland / Equine Welfare Alliance - horse slaughter
- Laura Allen / Animal Law Coalition - wild mustang issue
- Stuart Chaifetz / Shark - horses in rodeos
- Elizabeth Forel / Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages - carriage horses
- Allen, Forel, Holland -- Political Activism for Horses
- Azar/Mercado - The Horses of San Barnabe
Other panels sound very engaging and include discussions on fur bearing animals, empowering the grass roots animal rights movement; companion animals; and art & media to raise AR awareness. I hope to see you there. We have several people going from NYC - if you want to join us, let me know.
HORSES WORKING IN THE HEAVY RAIN
prohibited -- but who is enforcing the law?
Claire sent us this picture of one the drivers working his carriage horse in the pouring rain. The point is not whether some horses may like rain and a little rain never hurt anyone. The point is that the law prohibits working these horses during heavy rain, which this clearly was. It is just another example of the drivers flouting a law that does not get enforced.
this is from TITLE 24. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND MENTAL HYGIENE
CHAPTER 4. HEALTH, SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF RENTAL HORSES.
Owners shall not allow a horse to be worked on a public highway, path or street during adverse weather or other conditions which are a threat to the health or safety of the horse and the public. Adverse weather conditions shall include but not be restricted to snow, ice, heavy rain or other
slippery conditions. A horse being worked when such conditions develop shall be returned to the stable by the most direct route as soon as practicable.
WEAR ONE OF OUR T-SHIRTS TO THE RALLY
Carriage Horses: We have updated our stores on Cafe Press and have much to offer for the warm weather -- t-shirts,caps, totes - also mouse pads, mugs and other things. We have three stores:
As always, if you want our buttons, you will have to order directly from us. Click Here.
COZUMEL - PLEASE HELP THESE HORSES
Please send one e-mail
The activists from Cozumel in Mexico have not gone away. They had a set back recently when the new mayor allowed the carriage drivers to continue to work, ignoring their own laws. But the campaign continues. Jennifer, a woman from the US, has joined the campaign against this very inhumane tourist trade. After visiting Cozumel and hoping for a nice peaceful vacation, she came face to face with the horses. Seeing how they looked, she could not forget them and has started her own campaign.
Please take a moment to send Jennifer an e-mail - cheapdogbath@aol.com - She is collecting e-mails to be presented to the mayor when she returns in July of this year. Let her know how this is a very inhumane industry and should be abolished.
This is a link to her blog Stop Horse Abuse in Cozumel. The drawing here is by Chloe, an eight year old.
HELP OUR ORGANIZATION BY SHOPPING ON LINE.
Through a free registration with iGive, when you buy merchandise on line, your purchase will help 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 here to get started.
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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