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
BREAKING NEWS -- ANOTHER HORSE COLLAPSES
it must be "groundhog" day
A carriage horse collapsed today at 59th St. near FAO Schwartz - sometime after 4PM. This picture was sent to me by someone who was in a car just behind the fallen horse. The Win Animal Rights demo against the carriage horse trade was going on at the time and activists were there to document the entire horrific incident. I hear that the horse got up and appears to be OK.
HOWEVER, during this season, horses are worked till they drop. The 15 minute break they are supposed to get every two hours is a joke. This inhumane industry must be shut down.
HORSES WITHOUT CARRIAGES INTERNATIONAL DAY
observed December 3, 2011
We had an excellent turnout yesterday for Horses Without Carriages International Day. NY1 was there, along with the "shared" TV camera - we are still waiting to see any coverage. Fox 5 listed an announcement and we hear that Channel 7 did also. Thanks to all who came out - much appreciated. And special thanks to Senator Tony Avella and Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal who were present.
Horses Without Carriages International is a global coalition of activists around the world who are working towards banning this exploitative business in their cities. On the first Saturday of June and the first Saturday of December, we stand in solidarity with them. We will await photos from cities around the world that took place and will be sharing them on www.horseswithoutcarriages.org
WE NEED YOUR PRESENCE
for future demos at the hack line - next one is Sat. Dec. 10th
The holiday season is the busiest for the carriage trade. During the year, it is not unusual to see the carriages idling, waiting for a fare. But during this time of year, tourists who do not know any better line up. This is where you come in. Please commit to attend at least one demo (and hopefully more) at least in the next several weeks
- Saturdays: December 10, 17, 24 (New Year's Eve and Day are possibilities)
- Time: always 1pm to 3pm
- Where: north/west corner of Central Park South (59th St.) and 5th Avenue
We know that everyone is busy now, but please give some time to the horses - they and we need you! We cannot make a difference without you. All you have to do is show up!! There will be demos on Saturday sponsored by the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages and on Sunday sponsored by Win Animal Rights. Ours are from 1 to 3. Theirs generally start at 2pm. Please give a few hours to either or both.
SUPPORT NY STATE BILL TO BAN HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES
Sign petition and call your representative
Hooves and fingers crossed, but we think this petition has gone viral!!! As of this morning we had 77,420 signatures in support of this bill. So PLEASE sign it if you have not done so already and pass it on to friends and colleagues.Click Here to Sign Petition.
The bill to ban horse-drawn carriages in NYC is S5013 in the NYS Senate and A7748 in the NYS Assembly. It is referred to as the bill that PROHIBITS THE OPERATION OF HORSE DRAWN CABS IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK.
- IN ADDITION TO SIGNING THE PETITION - PLEASE CALL YOUR REPRESENTATIVES.
- Senate - Click here for the Senate site; find your Senator and call the district/local office.
- Assembly - Click here for the Assembly site; find your Assemblymember and call the district office
- Everyone has one Senator and one Assemblymember representing them.
For all those who live outside NYS, please call these offices and show your support as tourists:
- Senator Tony Avella - 1-718-357-3094
- Assemblymember Linda Rosenthal - 1-212-873-6368
- Let them know that you are a potential tourist to NYC and that you support their bill to ban horse-drawn carriages.
CHARLIE HORSE "DOG" TAGS FOR SALE
remember Charlie and help our organization
Charlie Horse died on October 23rd. He just dropped dead on W. 54th Street. While the cause of death is still unknown, his demise resonated with so many people throughout the world. Please remember him - the latest victim of this inhumane business.
We are selling Horse Tags to help us raise some needed funds and to remember Charlie. It reads
- CHARLIE
- 10-23-11 R.I.P.
- NEW YORK CITY
- CARRIAGE HORSE
- WWW.BANHDC.ORG
The Horse Tag is shiny aluminum with a long chain. You can either wear it around your neck or put it on a key chain. We are asking $10, including postage. Please go to our donation page by clicking here. You can pay by check or use Paypal. Please indicate that it is for the Charlie Tag.
One of our board members has volunteered to take this project on and send out the tags so you will be sure to get them. :-) . Thank you M.
A WORD ABOUT ME...
and the organization, donations, time and help
We are very, very thankful for your donations. Please do not ever think we are not or that we do not need your help. Our expenses include our Constant Contact newsletter, which happily is growing in membership (and incrementally, in cost,) website, posters, copying and other miscellaneous expenses. We also may be doing advertising in the new year. And we always want to have some money on hand to help fund horse rescues as we did this past year. Of course, none of us take salaries - we are proud to be Grass Roots and all Volunteer and doing this for Love!
This is the problem -- ME! Like many of us, I work a demanding full time job that needs my focus and I manage this organization in my spare time -- weekends and evenings. This means updating the web site, writing and researching the newsletter, articles, day to day administration, answering e-mails and monitoring Facebook. I always like to acknowledge your generous and thoughtful donations with a letter but it has gotten to be too much and we need to make changes from within. It also has not helped that I was sick for several weeks with pneumonia. I will not have a large chunk of time to myself until the end of the year when I take time off from work. So please be patient and know that we appreciate all of you so much!!
WE NEED HELP: I am looking for one or two people who can do some Internet research. It requires knowledge of Excel and converting lists to CSV. If you are interested, this could be an ongoing project involving the state legislature.
A HORSE OF A DIFFERENT COLOR
A Brian Gari tribute to the carriage horse (a must see)
A beautiful, poignant song about a carriage horse's dreams. Thanks to singer, songwriter Brian Gari for this sensitive tribute. Please click here to see and hear this heartbreaking, but beautiful song.
Thank you Brian for this wonderful contribution.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Yes we are on Twitter and Facebook -- please join us
We are also in the middle of getting our web site revamped so do not have links to Facebook and Twitter -- but we do have very active accounts. Both Facebook and Twitter are great complements to our weekly e-newsletter and we encourage you to participate with us. Are you on Twitter? If not -- it is easy to sign up. Click here. The Coalition tweets, and we've had a great response. This is a way to stay in touch with us, in real time. We encourage all to "follow" us on Twitter @BanHDCarriages. We'll keep you up to date about accidents, events, demonstrations, actions we'd like you to take, and other ways to help. The messages are short - only 140-characters maximum.
Our official Facebook page is No Walk in the Park. It is an open page and we invite you to "Like" us. We generally post news there as it comes in. We have another page called Horses Without Carriages International, which is tied in with our international coalition
REPORT HORSE INCIDENTS - IF YOU SEE SOMETHING - SAY SOMETHING
Be our eyes and ears
If you see a carriage horse incident, please notify coalition@banhdc.org.
- Take pictures (crucial) - videos or stills
- Record exact location of accident - ex. - north/west corner of 60th St. and Broadway
- Get 4-digit license plate number from back of carriage
- Provide a narrative - description of what happened
- Note: don't worry if you are not sure if what you saw was illegal. We will figure it out. The most important thing is to get the information to us.
You will help to make a difference for these horses.
TERRIBLE NEWS ABOUT US HORSE SLAUGHTER
starting up again
President Obama went back on one of his campaign promises and signed a bill that opens the door to new horse slaughter facilities in the US, by allowing funding for inspectors. I do not know what we can do at this time but will pass on any campaigns when i learn of them. The Washington Post reports - click here.
HELP OUR ORGANIZATION BY SHOPPING ON LINE
Also check out Cafe Press to purchase CBHDC merchandise
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.
We also have three stores on Cafe Press. Purchasing this merchandise helps our organization. Click here.
JOIN US ON FACEBOOK & 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 . Horses Without Carriages International also has a Facebook page. Please join!
"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.
