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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 FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES ** ** Horses Without Carriages Day - 12/1/12 ** NYC regulations ** another NYC carriage accident **
SUBSCRIPTION TO THIS NEWSLETTER
Thank you for subscribing to this newsletter. We very much appreciate it. We will be going through all contacts and removing those who have not opened the newsletter in the last three months. Unfortunately, when the newsletter is opened up through a mobile phone, it does not show as "opened." Since I will not know this, I will have removed your contact information. If you want to continue receiving the newsletter, please e-mail me at coalition@banhdc.org.
HORSES WITHOUT CARRIAGES INTERNATIONAL DAY
Saturday December 1st - New Meeting Place!
Saturday December 1st is Horses Without Carriages International Day when we stand in solidarity with activists around the world who are working to shut down this inhumane and unsafe trade.
- When: Saturday December 1st 12:45 pm to 3:00 pm
- Where: Meet at 12:45 pm at the southeast corner 50th St. and 6th Avenue where 9 West Shoes is located - opposite Radio City.
We will be walking around Rockefeller Plaza, which will have lots of tourists to educate and end up at the hack line at Central Park South and 5th Avenue about 2:30 pm where we will remain until about 3-3:30 pm.
If you live in a city that supports this inhumane carriage trade and want to do something about it - here are some suggestions:
- Are there any animal rights groups in your city? Contact them to see if they want to work on a campaign.
- If there are none - set up a Meet Up for like minded people.
- Write a letter to the editor of a local newspaper about this issue
- If you want to do a bit more and have a few people to help, create a few posters and flyers to hand out to tourists.
ANOTHER ACCIDENT FRIDAY NIGHT 11/23/12
Yes you heard right.
A passerby walking down Central Park South witnessed an incident involving a carriage horse on Friday evening, November 23rd at the corner of 7th Ave. and Central Park South opposite the NY Athletic Club. She told us that she was walking with a friend when she heard shouting. Thinking it was just another case of road rage, she did not look. But then the shouts intensified and she heard animal sounds and hooves scraping the ground. She looked over and saw the horse had spooked and was trying to back up out into the traffic. The driver was screaming and pulling the reins. The horse started pulling in the opposite direction. Then there was a loud crash and the horse was on the ground having taken a terrible spill, caught between the carriage shafts. The horse finally struggled to his feet.
We do not know what caused the horse to spook. Many accidents just like this and worse go unreported since the drivers are not required to make such reports. Horses should not be on the crowded congested streets of NYC. They weigh between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds and if spooked, they can bolt into traffic causing injury or death to themselves or pedestrians and significant property damage. Because of their size and power, they become unwitting weapons.
LAWS THAT GOVERN THE CARRIAGE TRADE
Please commit them to memory.
From Thanksgiving to New Year's is the busiest time of the year for the carriage trade when tourists line up to take carriage rides and the horses are worked to exhaustion. Here are a few laws to keep in mind:
- Carriage Capacity: the driver is allowed to carry no more than 4 adults OR 2 adults and 4 kids all under 12 yrs old OR 3 adults and 2 kids each of whom is under 12 yrs of age. Passengers are not allowed in the driver seat nor are they allowed to "drive" the carriage.
- Weather: carriages are not allowed to operate when it is 18 degrees or below. There is no consideration for wind chill.
- Snow: horses are not to be worked when there is "snow, ice, heavy rain or other slippery conditions."
- U-turns: Carriages continue to make u-turns on Central Park South and on the street coming out of the park near 5th Avenue. Please document this violation if you see it.
- Horse Safety: A horse shall not be left unattended or untethered. This, however, happens all the time. If a driver is not in the box (seat) of the carriage, he should hold the lead line to the horse or he should tether the horse to a post.
If you see any of these violations, please take a picture of the carriage showing the passengers, horse and driver; record the 4-digit license plate number on the back of the carriage; record the time and place of the incident. Report to us at coalition@banhdc.org.
this is a picture of an unattended horse.
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 & Noble. Even Cafe Press is available if you purchase some of our merchandise. Click here to get started.
On iGive - the name of our organization is "The Coalition for NYC Animals, Inc." We also have three stores on Cafe Press with great t-shirts, bags, hats, mugs, mouse pads, etc. Purchasing this merchandise helps our organization. Click here.
"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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