LAW TO PROTECT CARRIAGE HORSES NOT BEING FOLLOWED IN NY! PLS WRITE!

August 17, 2008

3-35/99-August 17, 2008

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HORSE SENSE W eekly updates about issues and actions concerning New York City's Carriage Horses

Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages www.banhdc.org

20 Comptroller' s Audit ** Combined Action ** Things to do with Kids ** Horses in Traffic **See Something - Say Something ** Horse Slaughter Bill ** Horse Watch Blog ** Volunteer

ONE YEAR LATER - COMPTROLLER' S AUDIT letters to the editor - West Side Spirit & Our Town

20 THE WEST SIDE SPIRIT & OUR TOWN - 8/14/08 -Horses Need Summer Break - - It has been a very hot and humid summer. Uncomfortable for people - but worse for the carriage horses who cannot get any relief. Kept out in the blazing sun, horses can easily overheat. As sweat

evaporates from the horse's skin, it acts as a cooling mechanism, drawing out some of the surface heat. But in times of high humidity, it is less efficient. If the air is humid, sweat will not evaporate. There is no shade on Central Park South or Grand Army Plaza where the carriage horses line up to accept passengers - the unforgiving sun beating down on their heads. They stand there waiting - with their blinders and heavy tack, between the shafts of their carriage. The 2007 NYC Comptroller' s Audit of the agencies that oversee the industry found that there isn't adequate shade on the hack line and horses risked overheating on the hot asphalt where they were forced to stand. One year later and nothing has changed. Existing regulations call for the horses to be returned to their stables when the temperature reaches 90 degrees - humidity is not a consideration. It can be 89 with humidity making it feel like 95 and the horses are permitted to work. But equine experts suggest when the combination of temperature and humidity or THI exceeds 130-140, the horses should be off the street. It is time for the authorities to pay attention to the stress experienced by these horses and at least factor humidity

into the existing law. Elizabeth Forel - President Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages

NOTE: The Comptroller' s Audit of the agencies that oversee the carriage industry was publicized by the NY Times in September of 2007. The audit made several recommendations about conditions concerning the carriage horses but none have been implemented. Please call your council member and ask them to look into this. You can reach them at the Council web site. The long suffering carriage horses have been mostly ignored by our City Council. It is bad enough that most of them are following lock step behind Speaker Quinn and will not put their name to a morally justified bill - Intro 658 -- but worse in a sense - is that they turn their head to the daily suffering the horses endure -- the heat; the hot pavement; the lack of easy access to water; standing in their own waste.

CARRIAGE HORSES SUFFER both national and international

Special Project: Please contact me if:

You live in a city where there is a horse-drawn carriage trade and you want to do something about it

You are actively working on the issue in your community

You want to take part in combined action

Contact me at coalitionbanhdc@ gmail.com

THINGS TO DO WITH YOUR KIDS 20Should never include exploiting animals - Action Needed

MOMMY POPPINS is a web site that focuses on getting more out of NYC with your kids. They have published a list of "100 things to do with your kids before they grow up." It includes a lot of fun things such as going on the Staten Island ferry or riding the Cyclone at Coney Island. Unfortunately, #13 - is to ride a horse drawn carriage in New York City This was brought to my attention by someone who contacted the editor, Anna Fader, who said she would consider removing the entry - but has not. If you want to contact her, her e-mail address is mommy (AT) mommypoppins (DOT) com but you will not be reaching the public. I suggest writing a comment on the blog below. Please remember that you are reaching parents who may not be aware of the cruelty involved and need to be educated. I noticed only one post that addressed this on May 18, 2008 "i love everything on this list except the horse-drawn carriages and the circus. i want to teach my children to be respectful and kind to animals, and those two operations do not cut

it." #99 was watching the circus elephants.

CARRIAGE HORSES WORKING THE STREETS IN NYC an accident waiting to happen

Carriage horses do not "work in the park" exclusively. Nor do they live there as some people assume. They begin their day by coming from their stables on the far west side of Manhattan to Central Park. The furthest stable is two miles away. After a certain time, they can go into

other areas of the city. This video posted on You Tube shows a typical day -- with the horrendous noises and traffic. Subjecting horses that weigh 1,500 pounds or more to these conditions is very dangerous. They can not only spook at the slightest provocation, but because they are slow moving, can get into vehicular accidents. Our Mayor and City Council continue to look the other way. But these horses deserve so much better. If you have not already done so (and even if you have) contact your Council Member to ask them to have a heart for the horses and support Intro 658, the bill to ban the industry.

FOR THE HORSES: SEE SOMETHING? SAY SOMETHING Report to the ASPCA's Humane Law Division

If you see an accident involving a carr iage horse; see a horse in distress (no matter what it is) - Please report it to the ASPCA's Humane Law Division. You must give the following information:

the time of day (i.e. 5:15 PM)

where the incident occurred (i.e. 56th St. and 9th Avenue)

license plate on the back of the cab (i.e. 1111) numerals only

4-digit ID number on the left front hoof of the horse (since this will be hard to see, a description of the horse - i.e. brown - is OK)

A description of the carriage (not necessary but may help)

A description of the driver (not necessary but may help)

Get the person's name you spoke with at the ASPCA and ask for a call back. Follow up in a few days.

Keep us in the loop. Notify us at coalitionbanhdc@ gmail.com

ASPCA - Humane Law Division - 212-876-7700 - x 4450. Please refresh your knowledge of the law by rereading these sections. Know what times the carriages are allowed to work and where; how many people are allowed in a carriage and when they have to20go back to their stable. However, If you see a horse in any kind of distress, it is important to report this to the ASPCA.

PREVENTION OF EQUINE CRUELTY ACT of 2008 Please take action and contact your Congressman

A new bill to ban the slaughter of horses in the US has been introduced into the House by the Judiciary Committee Chairman, John Conyers (D-MI) with Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN). The Prevention of Equine Cruelty Act of 2008 (H.R. 6598) would end the slaughter of American horses for

human consumption and prevent their export for slaughter in other countries. Why a new bill? The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503/S. 311) has been stalled in Congress and it is thought that this bill has a better chance of moving forward. Please access the HSUS web site and send a letter to your Congressman. PLEASE SPEAK OUT FOR THE HORSES!

HORSEWATCH NYC BLOG Treats, and Terror - August 15, 2008

Treats, and Terror - Bourbon didn't like being a Philadelphia carriage horse... His driver was none too thrilled about the job, either. She writes in The Washington Post about the claustrophobia of being in

traffic, the searing heat, the people yelling at them. Bourbon worked in a world of things he feared: jackhammers, skateboarders, and Dumpsters, to name a few. He was a stressed-out eater and often succeeded in getting people to turn over to him the treats they20were munching on. And just like that, his days as a Philadelphia carriage horse were over. One winter, he was sold to a carriage company in Minneapolis. His driver, Adele Levine, wrote fondly of her days working with Bourbon, even though she says they both hated the job. I guess they were both desperate. She, however, surely had more options that being bought and sold like an old, beaten-up car. We can only hope that Bourbon enjoyed a new life somewhere, but we are not so optimistic. In an industry that is too cheap to euthanize the horses when they deemed unable to do the job, horses often come to a terrible end. Read: "The City Was His Feedbag" (Aug. 15, 2008) Photo credit: George Widman, The Associated Press

VOLUNTEER WITH US every weekend weather permitting

We table every Saturday weather permitting -- handing out fliers and getting signatures on post cards or petitions. We educate people about the inhumanity of the carriage horse trade. It is very rewarding and our presence on Central Park South near the hack line is very important. Please contact Rita, our volunteer coordinator if you are available for next weekend - Saturday, August 23rd. Hours are from 1-5. Rita can be reached at volunteerforthecoal ition (AT) gmail (DOT) com

=2 0 Pictures: 1-Horse standing in his own waste; 2-Buddy involved in an accident; 3-Columbus Circle; 4-NYC carriage horse; 5- horse at slaughter house 6- Big Adorable Teddy - rescued carriage horse

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead.

email: coalitionbanhdc@ gmail.com

web: http://www.banhdc. org

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Thank you for caring about the horses, Elizabeth Forel - Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages - a standing committee of The Coalition for New York City Animals, Inc.