Should the industry be banned?

Experts Will Take Up The Topic
May 11, 2009, 6:30 pm
A Free Event Presented by the Bar Association of the City of New York

Yay or Neigh:
Should the Carriage Horse Industry be Banned in NYC?
An Expert Panel Discussion
This is your opportunity to hear from experts on issues pertaining to the the horse-drawn carriage industry. Activists have called for a ban, saying that the congested streets of New York City are no place for horses. The industry asserts that horse carriages represent a legitimate business that is vital to tourism. A panel of experts will discuss the proposed ban on horse-drawn carriages and other issues relating to carriage horses.

Moderators:
LORI BARRETT, Deputy County Attorney, Office of the Nassau County Attorney; CHRISTINE MOTT, Christine Mott, Esq.

Speakers:
DR. HOLLY CHEEVER, DVM; ELIZABETH FOREL, President of the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages ; DONNY MOSS, Documentary filmmaker, Blinders; MARTHA ROBINSON, Associate General Counsel, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene; STACY WOLF, Vice President and Chief Legal Counsel, Humane Law Enforcement, ASPCA

There is no charge to attend. Registration is requested--click here

WHO: Bar Association of the City of New York
WHEN: Monday, May 11, 2009
WHERE: Where: 42 West 44th Street, NYC (between 5th & 6th Avenues)
TIME: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM

And the winner is...

"Blinders" ... for Outstanding TV Documentary!
Congratulations, Donny Moss!
A huge honor at the 23rd Annual Genesis Awards for independent filmmaker Donny Moss, whose documentary "Blinders: The Truth Behind the Tradition" was named Best TV Documentary. "Definitely a happy night for me, the activists, and, of course, the carriage horses," said Moss, seen in the photo accepting his award at the March 28, 2009 awards presentation. "Blinders" shows us the realities of New York City's horse-drawn carriage industry, which is deemed inhumane by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), sponsor of the Genesis Awards. The ASPCA, HSUS, countless animal advocacy groups, and the New York City Bar Association support a full ban, as outlined in legislation introduced by New York City Council member Tony Avella. "Blinders" is credited with helping to make more people aware of the plight of New York City's carriage horses.
See more photos of Donny Moss and other honorees on Flicker.
After the film was nominated in February, The Documentary Channel (DOC) added more screenings, on Monday, April 20, at 10 pm and Saturday, April 25, at 6 pm (both ET). DOC is available on DISH Network (Channel 197), and several broadcast stations in major markets including NYC TV (Channel 25) throughout the greater New York metropolitan area. DOC also has made the full-length "Blinders" documentary available to online audiences on the network's exclusive Sling.com channel.
Winners of 2009 Genesis Awards by category
Photo: Long Photography
Also available: Read an interview with Donny Moss on Advocate.com

Recent perspectives on ancient history

Horses deserve better; public safety is at risk
Thoughtful letter-writers have elucidated the rationale for a ban on horse-drawn carriages in New York City. J. Hoffner (Grasmere) wrote in the Staten Island Advance that she has counted at least 22 serious carriage accidents between 1998 and 2008, including 5 horse deaths and 19 human injuries, and asks: "How many are required to count as enough?" Read her letter and others, in response to the Nov. 30 opinion piece "Setting the Record Straight on Horse-Drawn Carriages" by "Blinders" filmmaker Donny Moss.

On the ASPCA's watch...

The horses were working today during a snowstorm, illegally. This despite the ASPCA's early assurances that the horses had been sent back to the stables. Filmmaker Donny Moss ("Blinders") braved the storm to document the horrific conditions in which the horses were working. At his own risk, as you will see.

Sign up for the Coalition fundraiser!

Have you signed up yet for the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages fund-raising party? I finally did! (What a deal -- $30 in advance, $40 at the door). And I got around to checking the silent auction items. I know what I'm bidding on ... a vegan organic chocolate gift basket! Helping the horses and getting vegan chocolate--does it get any better than that? I don't think so. And the entertainment is stellar. Mantra 986 may be my new favorite restaurant. I'll see you there, on Tuesday, October 14, at Mantra (986 Second Avenue, between 52nd and 53rd Streets, in midtown Manhattan). If you're bidding on the vegan chocolate, be forewarned: I'll race you to the "Buy It Now" bid! Stand back, I'm a chocolate fiend!
Special guests will include City Council Member Tony Avella, Donny Moss, Joy Askew, Nellie McKay, comics Liam McEneaney and Ann Design, and our emcee, Fiona Walsh. Very cool!

Put this on your "To Do" list!

Get your tickets for the fundraiser! Space is limited, but you need to be there on October 14, 2008, because the proceeds benefit the ongoing work of the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages. Some special guests will be attending, including City Council Member Tony Avella and documentary-maker Donny Moss. There's a fantastic entertainment lineup: Fiona Walsh, Joy Askew, Nellie McKay, Ann Design, and Liam McEneaney.

If you are involved in efforts to ban horse-drawn carriages, you must make this the event to attend! Clear your calendar for October 14, and head over to the fundraiser at Mantra 986 on Second Avenue, between 52nd and 53rd Streets, 6-10 pm (arrive on time and take part in the silent auction!) An evening of great entertainment, food, and fun--and it's for a great cause. Tickets are $30 in advance, $40 at the door.

Get your tickets early, through PayPal (via the Coalition website). If you prefer to pay by check, make it payable to the Coalition for NYC Animals, Inc. The mailing address is: PO Box 20247, Park West Station, New York, NY 10025.

Check out the Silent Auction catalog ...
About Mantra 986
Seriously, cancel those other plans! You know you want to attend this party!

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)

"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

Tickets online now for Blinders!

"Blinders," the documentary by independent filmmaker Donny Moss, is being screened locally this weekend. Don't miss your opportunity to see this important film, which exposes the truth behind the tradition of New York City's horse-drawn carriage industry.
Buy advance tickets online for screenings on Friday, June 6, and Saturday, June 7, at the Staten Island Film Festival (SINY).
Blinders, Winner of "Best Film" in the Point of View category, International Wildlife Film Festival, 2008
Upcoming screenings in Toronto, Great Barrington, Mass., Great Neck, NY -- more information
NEW! TRAVEL INFORMATION for the Staten Island Film Festival (SINY)

Blinders: the truth behind the tradition

Critical acclaim for the new documentary "Blinders"
"Hopefully, for the sake of the Central Park horses, this powerful film will prove unforgettable." --Dallas Observer, April 27, 2008
"Nicely done!" --Gene Baur, founder of Farm Sanctuary

"Blinders" premiered in Dallas last month to a very enthusiastic audience and a rousing Q&A, with director Donny Moss in attendance. Now this award-winning documentary is being screened in the New York City metro area! Watch the trailer and find screening information
Read "Film Highlights Suffering of NYC Carriage Horses" (news release, Humane Society of the United States)

Support a ban on horse-drawn carriages in NYC