ARFF - Carriage Horses


	The Case Against Horse-Drawn Carriages Horse-drawn carriages are not the desirable trip down "memory lane" that they are portrayed to be. Instead, they present potentially serious threats to the safety of both people and horses. The risk of accidents Mixing horse-drawn vehicles with pedestrians and motor vehicle traffic is inherently dangerous. Contrary to operator's claims, most horses are not at all comfortable working among cars and trucks. Horses can easily be "spooked" — no matter how well trained they may be. Horses may become startled by sudden noises like sirens, horns, motorcycles and thunder, and cause accidents by running into traffic or onto sidewalks. Serious injuries resulting from collisions between cars and carriage horses have occurred in almost every city that allows carriage horse rides. Injuries Holly Cheever, a respected equine veterinarian who has treated carriage horses in New York City, has testified that, "Lameness and hoof deterioration are inevitable when a horse spends his or her life walking or jogging on the unnaturally concussive asphalt of city streets." Dehydration In Florida's blistering heat and humidity, horses are at serious risk of suffering from dehydration or heat stress. The dangerous effects of high temperature and humidity is magnified by pavement temperature that is often 50 degrees hotter than the air. Toxic pollution Air pollution has an adverse effect on horse's respiratory systems. Horses forced to pull carriages in traffic draw in huge lungfulls of toxins. Horse's nostrils are usually only a few feet above street level, so these animals are truly living "a nose-to-tailpipe existence."

	The Animal Rights Foundation of Florida is committed to working with city officials to ban horse-drawn carriages wherever they are present. Pressure from concerned residents and tourists has resulted in bans on carriage horses in a number of Florida cities, including Palm Beach, Hollywood, Key West, Pompano Beach, Deerfield Beach, Kenneth City, Treasure Island and Panama City Beach. What You Can Do - Contact your government officials. Urge them to ban carriage horse rides in your community. - If you see a carriage horse in distress, contact the police department, animal control and/or the local humane society. - Join ARFF in our campaigns against the carriage horse industry in the City of St. Augustine and elsewhere.

	St. Augustine Carriage Horses Need Your Help! Horses pulling heavy carriages are a sad but unfortunately common sight on St. Augustine's busy streets. In recent years, there have been several accidents involving horse-drawn carriages in St. Augustine, resulting in injuries to tourists, carriage drivers and horses. ARFF has proposed minimum requirements be adopted by the City of St. Augustine to protect horses forced to pull heavy carriages in extreme heat and humidity. However, despite expert testimony and meetings with the Mayor and other city officials, we have failed to provoke any evidence of compassion by elected officials. ARFF continues to urge the city to adopt the following basic protections for carriage horses: Allow horses to work only after 5 pm in the summer, Regulate the length of time horses are forced to work, and Ensure horses are provided with an adequate amount of clean, fresh, cool water. You Can Help! Join ARFF as we speak up for the horses. ARFF frequently holds demonstrations against the cruel carriage horse industry in St. Augustine. Visit our Events Calendar for future dates. Please contact Mayor Boles and the Commissioners of St. Augustine and ask them to prohibit carriage horse rides. Let them know that other Florida cities have similar bans. If you are a tourist, tell them that you avoid cities that support the exploitation of animals for entertainment. Contact: Mayor Joseph L. Boles City of St. Augustine P.O. Box 210 St. Augustine, FL 32085 E-mail: cosa@citystaug.com Phone: (904) 825-1005 Fax: (904) 825-1096 St. Augustine City Commission: Errol D. Jones, Vice Mayor/Commissioner Don Crichlow, Commissioner Leanna Freeman, Commissioner Nancy Sikes-Kline, Commissioner