Horses Without Carriages International www.horseswithoutcarriages.org

Donny is the director and film maker of Blinders: the Truth Behind the Tradition. You may purchase or rent this on Amazon. Click Here. (photo by Mary Culpepper)

Avella goes on to say: Avella said he is aware some of the drivers who would be affected by the ban live in his district and has agreed to work with business owners to come up with alternatives to help them keep their jobs. He has suggested converting carriages into motorized cars that would operate without horses and said medallions could be transferred at a "very minor cost." De Blasio has proposed using electric cars, but Avella and Malone said it would not work in the long run because of the cost. Avella said he is not opposed to discussing other options but said the fact of the matter is that the industry as it exists is outdated

EXCELLENT ONLINE COMMENTS TO THIS ARTICLE:

• Susan Davis from Queens: So because approx 200 people have job insecurity we should continue an unnecessary safety hazard, and unnecessary cruelty to horses? Absurd, who has had more notice to find work than these people, who? DeBlasio stated over 6 months ago that the ban is coming, so right now technically they've had at least 6 months to find other employment. When I had to find employment for which I had no skills (Ian McKeever you are hardly the only one), I had less than 2 weeks notice! There will always be car accidents, but we NEED cars in NYC, horses are not needed, so any accident with a horse is an unnecessary accident. These horses need daily pasture, daily turnout and they are deprived of it! Just because someone isn't standing over them with a whip doesn't mean it's not cruel. The NYC environment is horrendously cruel to horses.
• Valerie from Long Island: When one is in denial about the realty of the circumstances, one could justify just about any form of cruelty, especially when it comes to animals because they are, as a matter of course, objectified. Like sows confined in gestation crates. Or elephants performing in circuses. And so on. Most people have limited knowledge of and actual experience with the species they are objectifying and so, they simply ride on the backs of others who do the same. This disconnect just perpetuates the paradigm that animals are ours to subjugate. Spend some time with animals and stop quoting a bunch of regulations that are rarely observed and have nothing to do with the hearts and spirit of a sentient being. It's time to move forward and practice compassion. Exploitation is the mark of an indulgent and cruel society.
• Sharon from California: Turnout is a decompression time for herd animals that have spent hours confined and regimented to the same boring pattern day in and day out. It's a time to interact with others of their own species, sort out herd hierarchy, groom one another and reaffirm bonds. It becomes a mental health issue. Growing up on a ranch with show horses that were stabled except for training or showing (growing up in SoCal there is no set show season it happens all year), the mental stress was obvious in the horses that never or rarely experienced turnout or normal herd socialization. Naming ourselves the empirical species on this planet seems to have given us the right to force other species into unnatural patterns contrary toto their nature, and then argue and defend our right to do so.

The Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages started the campaign to ban this inhumane and unsafe trade in 2006 -- but I had been working on this issue since 1989. The stables were the furthest thing from our minds. There would be no campaign if it were not for our activism. But as things developed and NY Class got involved, headed by a wealthy real estate developer, the carriage drivers' argument changed to "land grab"

This is Harris' blog about Glen's cats. Click Here. If you are not able to attend, you may donate in a few ways. Glen buys his cat food at the Walmart's in Puerto Rico - he gets the money right away if you buy the card as per this link -- or you may donate by Paypal. I have been a fan for years. His e-mail address is sethspeaksnyc@gmail.com

Cindy is helping Orphan Acres in Idaho and Big Cat Rescue in Florida to earn money for the animals and their programs. She has always been interested in our cause and now she wants to help us. Please take the time to look around the site and get an understanding of how every time you shop on line for great products, 5% can go to us. Learn more by contacting Cindy Wines.