Horses Without Carriages International www.horseswithoutcarriages.org

Thank you so much for contacting the ASPCA. We always encourage open dialogue and the thoughtful exchange of ideas, and I appreciate you sharing your concerns about Chris, a New York City carriage horse. Here are the facts as we know them: �

• On September 26, ASPCA agents, the NYPD and FDNY responded to a carriage horse incident in Manhattan. Agents suspended the horse, named Chris, from work pending a veterinary exam.
• An equine veterinarian subsequently examined Chris and ordered three days of rest and recuperation before he could be returned to work.
• The NYPD investigated the incident and found that the driver had not committed any legal infractions.
• We understand that Chris did not return to work and was relocated to Pennsylvania on September 30.

We want to know exactly what "relocated" means. The ASPCA has no jurisdiction over the "farms" outside of NYC. The furlough locations are not subject to inspection by any City agency or the ASPCA and the Department of Health does not have a list of these locations.

The ASPCA statement above is worthless and does not tell us anything. The ASPCA is giving up humane law enforcement by the end of the year and this is an opportunity for them to do the right thing and find out where Chris is and let the public know. NY Class has previously said that they and the ASPCA, their "partner," will find homes for all the horses. Well - let them put their money where their mouth is and provide one for Chris. We tried but were turned down. Please write to Stacy Wolf - stacyw@aspca.org - she is the Sr. VP of Humane Law Enforcement. If your e-mail bounces, there is nothing I can do about it. They will change them if they do not want to be contacted. I have already written to her but have not received a response. Thank you.

The comments on the site, however, indicate the owners are not interested and will fight to the end to keep their unpopular, outdated, inhumane and unsafe business. This is link to Andres Carriage Tours LLC.

It's good news for the horses in New York this election season, and we hope the politicians follow through on their promises. We've featured articles on the issue of carriage horses extensively over the years, so here's a quick recap of the issue at large: A Horse of a Different Color - "In the age before the automobile, horses were notoriously overworked, and many died in the streets. In NYC, they pulled wagons loaded with people and goods, and they served as the power for the City's street trolley system. Between 100,000 and 200,000 horses lived in the city at the turn of the century." This article provides an excellent breakdown of the life in a day of a carriage horse along with more information about the business itself. Where do all the NYC Carriage Horses Go? - Breaks down the myths and facts about what happens to a carriage horse once it can no longer prove "helpful" to its owner. NYC Fails its Carriage Horses - Reports on the death of carriage horse Charlie, and the public's reaction to the event in 2011. NYC Carriage Horses Never Have Happy Holidays - Adds some perspective to the carriage marketing gimmick of a romantic holiday stroll with horses. NYC Carriage Horses Don't Get What They Really Need - Analyzes a ruling at the time to give horses "vacation" time when what they truly need is to be free from captivity in the city.