7- 61/21 June 9, 2013
 
 

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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 ** New study and article - Where have all the horses gone? ** our ad campaign ** the story of Lilly O'Reilly and Bobby II Freedom ** NYC mayoral race ** Two carriage incidents

FIRST EVER STUDY SHOWS A VERY HIGH TURNOVER OF NYC CARRIAGE HORSES
No Accountability - average of 71 horses a year do not get their license renewed
bobby by jeffrey anderson Last week I released a 7 1/2 year study that showed a turnover of an average of 71 carriage horses each year - about 1/3 of the horses on hand. These horsed did not get their license renewed. The total over 7 1/2 years is 529 horses. This is a link to the article and study.

Since 2005 I have been analyzing and comparing lists of carriage horses, which I requested from the Department of Health (DoH) through the Freedom of Information Law. There is nothing in NYC law to protect these horses or to make their owners accountable. They can bring them to auction or dump them with a third party -- or they can find a home for them when they are no longer useful. The DoH does not track the horses after their license is not renewed making it impossible to find out where they went. The picture here is of Bobby II Freedom by Jeffrey Anderson. It was the basis for Peter Max's painting. Bobby, then known as Billy, was one of the 529 horses who was dumped.

DADA & BILLY - VICTIMS OF NYC CARRIAGE TRADE - SAVED!
better known as Lilly O'Reilly and Bobby II Freedom
christmas card There was too much to write about these two horses for the newsletter so I created a blog. Both are part of the 529 turnover. Lilly is no longer with us, but the last year or so of her life was wonderful and filled with love and caring . Bobby II Freedom is living the good life at the Equine Advocates Sanctuary. Wonderful story about both of these horses. This picture of Lilly was at her new home with vet Michaela, Cole, the quarter horse and Badonkeydonk, the donkey.

Please read the story of Lilly O'Reilly and Bobby II Freedom Click on our blog - The Story of Dada and Billy better known as Lilly O'Reilly and Bobby II Freedom - rescued former NYC carriage horses.

OUR ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN CONTINUES THANKS TO YOU
Ban horse-drawn carriages
crash Our advertising campaign continues. Last week, we advertised in City and State on Monday - a government oriented paper -- and Ourtown; West Side Spirit and Downtown Ourtown on Thursday. This coming week, look out for the CNG group of papers in Bronx, Brooklyn and Queens, Metro on Wednesday and the Staten Island Advance on Friday.

A heartfelt thank you to all of you who have already donated to this cause to be part of our advertising campaign. We plan to add more ads based on available funds. If you would like to contribute and help us to get the message out in more papers, please send us a donation via this link. Click here. Donations by PayPal or check are welcome. Depending on the size, the number of times an ad is run, and the newspaper, the cost has ranged from $350 to $700 per ad. We are all volunteer so every dollar donated goes back into the organization.

TWO CARRIAGE HORSE INCIDENTS REPORTED TO US
police ignore concerned passerby as horse bleeds
We often get e-mails from passersby who see an incident like the two described here. The first e-mail was from a woman named Sophie who witnessed this incident on Wednesday, June 5th at 8 pm at 11th Ave. and 40th St. The white carriage was going south so was most likely from either West Side Livery or Byres Brothers stable. She went on to say that in the middle of traffic, the left shaft broke and somehow got underneath the belly and back leg of the horse. The shaft, for those of you who do not know, is the long pole on either side of the carriage.

The horse began to wildly try to free himself from this new found position, cutting his leg badly and running out across all the lanes of traffic on this busy street. To make matters worse, the NYPD traffic cops made light of it when she asked for telephone numbers to report the incident. They also did not write up a report. When she approached the cops and said that the horse was hurt and what could she do, one of the officers said to her. "I grew up on a farm" - as if this was just a natural thing. I have reported this to the authorities. What will come of it is anyone's guess.

2ND INCIDENT REPORTED TO US
Driver carelessly parks his carriage at busy intersection
Unfortunately, this person also did not take pictures or get the license plate number either. But I have no doubt it happened because I see this kind of thing all the time. At night when there are fewer people around, it happens more. This was from Carol, who reported that on Saturday morning at 1:25am at 9th avenue and 56th St., she saw a driver tether his horse to a street lamp at a very busy intersection. The horse and carriage were extending into the street and there were several close calls as cars turned right to 9th Avenue. The horse was getting more and more agitated. The driver was standing on the street photographing the tourists in the carriage. The horse, who was very nervous, spooked several times and the carriage began moving but the driver continued what he was doing.

This is very irresponsible behavior and is always an accident waiting to happen.

IF YOU SEE ANYTHING LIKE THIS - do the following:

  • take pictures
  • get the license plate number on the back of the carriage
  • note the time, date and location
  • describe what was going on
  • Contact us - [email protected]
  • If you see an accident call 911.

WHAT'S NEW IN THE NYC MAYORAL RACE?
Every week, we address the most important media coverage in the NYC mayoral race. To see past newsletters, please check out our archives - click here. Just a few this week that matter. Seems that many reporters are desperate to create news - especially the NY Times, which favors Quinn. What is wrong with that board!:

We often look to the Facebook page of Defeat Christine Quinn for the latest news on the race. If you are on Facebook, please like this page.

SACRAMENTO, CA - PLEASE SIGN PETITION
Please sign petition on change.org to ban horse-drawn carriages in Sacramento. Click here.

Take a look at the website of Working Animal Advocates who are advocating for a ban in Sacramento. They researched the temperature in various cities for when the horses should be taken off the street in the hot weather.

PLEASE JOIN US ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA ACCOUNTS
Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Google Blog & Flickr

HELP OUR ORGANIZATION BY SHOPPING ON LINE
Also check out Cafe Press to purchase CBHDC merchandise
igive 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.

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.