2 miles the hard way--on steamy pavement

Wait long enough for a break, and you may be able to catch a glimpse of carriages coming up 10th Avenue. The buses around the Port Authority Bus Terminal and Lincoln Tunnel are lined up like jetliners on the runway at LaGuardia. This is how the horses commute from the West Side Livery and Central Park Carriages stables in the west 30s. That's right, they have to go to 59th Street to get to work. This video shows the part of New York that most tourists do not see. But they should.

Life in the Big City

Non-New Yorkers may be under the illusion that carriage horses live inside Central Park, get daily turnout, and have a pretty good life. This really is an illusion. Take a look at the video "Horses in NYC Traffic" on YouTube, posted by "horsesinnyc." A real eye-opener.
You may be new to the carriage-horse issue, or perhaps you have experience with horses. In any event, you will see that it is inappropriate and inhumane for horse-drawn carriages to operate in New York City.
Support a full ban on horse-drawn carriages in New York City
Learn more -- Visit the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages

How long will horses be mistreated?

Film documents gruesome accidents
There's a lot of buzz in New York City today about the Blinders screening last night. The Central Park Blogger comments on the ultimate irony: even Beijing has banned horse-drawn carriages, but New York City has stubbornly refused to do so. It does boggle the mind.
Read "Blinders Screened" (Central Park Blog post, June 20, 2008)
Blinders is the new documentary from independent filmmaker Donny Moss. View the trailer on the Blinders website
Photo credit: Charles Eckert (January 2, 2006)
Support a ban on horse-drawn carriages in NYC (Intro. 658)

Happy endings for the few

Some worn-out New York City carriage horses are fortunate enough to be rescued from the auctions in New Holland, Pa. After much physical and emotional rehabilitation, Lilly O'Reilly was one of these "happy ending" horses. Lilly has since passed away, but she was well cared-for since her rescue and adoption, and loved by many.
Photos courtesy of Cheryl Syriac, Central New England Equine Rescue
Lilly Rose O'Reilly was rescued before the last US slaughterhouse was shut down.
Read more of Lilly O'Reilly's story

"Blinders" Director to be Honored

Award-winning film to be screened in Toronto
Blinders, the documentary that reveals the inhumane realities of New York City's carriage horse industry, will premier in Canada on June 19 at the ReelHeART International Film Festival. Filmmaker Donny Moss will be honored by the Toronto Humane Society, which has long advocated tirelessly for New York City's carriage horses.
Blinders, Winner of "Best Film" in the Point of View category, International Wildlife Film Festival, 2008. Visit the official Blinders website

Off topic (again), on target

The connection? Mistreatment, early death, inhumane slaughter
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP)--Thoroughbred racetracks in the U.S. reported more than three horse deaths a day last year and 5,000 since 2003, and the vast majority were put down after suffering devastating injuries on the track, according to an Associated Press survey. Eight Belles was one such horse, and another was George Washington (pictured). Read more
The AP lays it all out in this important story about the horse racing industry. It does not address the little-known fact that an estimated 10% to 15% of horses sent to slaughter are race horses.
Story by Jeffrey McMurray, AP. Photo: Getty Images

Strike up a conversation about horses

Dog tags are here!
Show your support for a ban on horse-drawn carriages by wearing a dog tag embossed with the name of a current or former New York City carriage horse. Great conversation starters! Some tags honor a working carriage horse (Scarlett, Romeo, Trottolino, and Prince) and others immortalize certain horses that were casualties of the job (Smoothie, Juliet, and Spotty). Your tag will have either the working carriage horse's ID#, or the former carriage horse's date of death and the letters "R.I.P." All tags have the URL for the website of the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages (NYC), which is making the tags available. These are great gifts and wonderful to wear.
Each dog tag includes an 18-inch bead-chain (you can also attach your tag to a keychain). Each tag is $10. Your purchase shows the world your support of a ban on horse-drawn carriages in NYC, and it also helps the horses by making possible the work of the coalition. PayPal or check accepted. To get your dog tag, click here to make a donation to the Coalition via PayPal (be sure to specify that you want to receive a dog tag).