Carriage Horses

This seems to be a popular topic lately. There are seem to be a lot of horse carriage/buggy related crashes. Here's PETA's side of the issue (no, I usually don't agree with them) and here's a recent story about a carriage hit near Central Park.

Let's talk about the carriage being hit first. Horse was caught unharmed, no one was in the carriage at the time, and the driver was taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

1. Carriage horses NEED to be properly desensitized. I'm definitely not saying this one wasn't because any sane horse would bolt if it's carriage was hit by a car. I know I would.

2. Drivers NEED to be more careful! (I mean the car ones not the ones controlling the carriages, but they should be on the lookout as well.) I'm sick and tired of hearing stories about Amish buggies and horse drawn carriages being hit by cars. Accidents happen, but they shouldn't be happening this often.

Now let's take a look at the issue behind this: whether or not horse drawn carriages should be allowed in cities. As said in the article, PETA is trying to get them replaced by classic cars. There is just one thing I want to say to that.

WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO ALL THE HORSES AND DRIVERS? The one thing that bothers me most about people that think entire sports should end is the fact that they never think about what would happen if it did end. This is similar.

Horses - yes, they're probably very well-trained carriage horses and awesome animals. But there are a LOT of horses like that out there right now for sale that no one can afford. Exactly how many carriage horses are there in Central Park? A couple dozen?

Drivers - Carriage rides are probably their primary source of income. By taking that away, you're asking them to give up what is probably all they know and what they love to do. So you're taking away their job, telling them they can't give carriage rides in Central Park anymore, and asking them to support a horse as well if they're the actual owner? If they're NOT the actual owner, do you think whoever that is is going to keep all their horses now that they're not doing anything?

If you want something to happen, you HAVE to think it through. Yes, it might save horse and human lives. But it's also affecting a lot more.

A carriage ride in the park with my mom at night is one of my favorite memories. I wish I still had the picture the driver took... Back then I was only able to touch a horse maybe once a month at most so a carriage ride was the highlight of my vacation. It wasn't in Central Park, I've never actually been to New York.