To some they are considered one of Central Park’s most popular attractions, and are just one of the many fixtures of New York City. However, to others they are an obsolete and unnecessary presence. For years now the horse carriage industry of New York City has been one of the hot button issues within the city on whether or not the attraction that has a not so typical animal walking about the city should stay or be banned.
Joining in the protest effort in banning horse drawn carriage rides celebrities like Alec Baldwin, Lea Michele, Wendy Williams, and many more have come out in a multitude of advertisements claiming the industry harms not only civilians but the animals themselves. Yet, there are some who support the industry along with some stars like Liam Neeson who claim the industry is as much a part of New York City as its civilians.
And now Mayor Bill de Blasio is getting involved in the debate, and like the opponents of the horse carriages plans on banning the institution in the city.
Opponents against horse carriages find the industry barbaric. Protestors find the industry as being dangerous for both horses and civilians due to the risk accidents between civilians and the horses. Since 2011, several horse carriages have been involved in traffic accidents. Also, protestors, in-addition to Mayor de Blasio and some City Council members, are coming out against the horse carriage industry citing animal abuse against the horses.
Meanwhile, supporters of horse carriages are stating otherwise. Representatives of the coachmen who drive the carriages claim that in the last 30 years there have only three horses have died pulling the carriages.
“Accidents may happen anywhere and anytime to anyone, whether pedestrian or cyclist,” said Connor McHugh, an Irish-born stable manager of one of the horse carriage companies, “We train horses before taking them out into the street, and we are very careful.”
If the ban on horse carriages succeeds, dozens of carriage drivers will be out of work. An estimated 300 families are believed to depend upon the horse carriage industry. Among this 300 are 28 Latinos who face losing their jobs if the ban goes through.
For Ángel Hernández, 28, being a horse carriage driver isn’t just a job but a livelihood. A carriage driver for eight years, Hernández rides his carriage every morning from the Clinton Park stable located on 52nd street and 11th Avenue to the Park. But prior to being a horse carriage rider here in the city, Hernández recalls his career was bestowed onto him back home in his native Mexico.
Back in Mexico, Hernández describes how his grandmother used to have horses and how she would ride them in the countryside as well in the city’s cobble-stone streets beside vehicles in traffic. Much like it was in Mexico, Hernández sees there is no difference in riding horse carriages in New York City as well.
“Same thing here, in Manhattan,” explains Hernández, “You just have to get used to riding alongside the cars, and be careful from here to Central Park.”
If the ban succeeds, Mayor de Blasio has suggested replacing the horse drawn carriages with vintage-style electric carriages. The proposal is something that George Miranda, President of the union that represents carriage drivers called Teamsters Joint Council 16, does not want to see happen.
“Ours is an iconic industry which has existed for two centuries,” Miranda argued, “Tourists love it. We are not against the vintage coaches, but it’s just not for us.”
But the replacement of the carriages with electric ones would not solve anything but may cause eventual problems. Miranda also adds the proposal to replace the carriages may cause a rivalry between the new carriages and the bicycle-pulled rickshaws that also takes passengers through the parks. With the new carriages, the rickshaws, along with joggers and cyclists Miranda foresees more traffic inside of Central Park which already is a high-trafficked area due to thousands of tourist and civilians walking through.
One of the main arguments against horse carriages is that idea that the treatment of the horses is not the horse carriages industry top priority.
In New York City there are several regulations that must be met when it comes to the care of the horses. For example, if the temperature in the city is too low or too high horses cannot work; the horses are required to be seen by a veterinarian twice a year; and the horses are given a five week vacation period where they go to the countryside located in Connecticut. These areas are also used as a place of retirement when the horses become too old.
“A horse came here when he was seven and retired at 22. He lived four more years. He earned his living, and helped us do the same,” said McHugh.
But José Abel Luna can attest to the treatment of the horses. From El Salvador, Luna, age 30, devotes his time to tending to the horses. Arriving in the early hours of the morning, Luna prepares both carriages and horses. Ensuring the horses have ample space in the stables, providing enough water and a steady supply of hay, Luna believes the horses under his care are not being abused.
“They are much safer here than when they lived in the country as colts,” argues Luna, “We also feed them and give them water while they are in the park.”
While both opponents and proponents against or for horse carriages in New York City debate on whether the industry should be banned or saved one thing should be noted: the industry contains a large animal within a very active environment.
On August 16, 2012, a horse by the name Oreo was spooked and took off into traffic. After dumping both its driver and two passengers, Oreo struck two cars before its carriage was split in half and fell free. Once freed from the carriage, Oreo continued running for four blocks before finally being captured. Captured and then tranquilized, Oreo was taken back to the stables meanwhile the driver and passengers were treated for minor injuries.
While accidents do not happen every day, and cannot be avoided, should there be such an attraction which contains such a docile animal—horses—in a city that contains a more active animal like man?
Yes, horse carriages are an attraction and a historical fixture of New York City. Yes, there are many who depend on the livelihood of driving said carriages to live. And yes, some of the concerns of the protestors are sound when it comes to the care for the animals. But no matter whether the horse carriages should be banned or not one concern should matter: no life should be ignored in the name of historical attraction or personal cause.
