Group Looks to Outlaw Horse Carriages
By: JESSE BUCHANAN, Special to the Herald
WETHERSFIELD - To most, a carriage ride is romantic, quaint and relaxing.
To others, it’s cruel and exploitative.
The town’s plan to provide horse-drawn carriage rides in Old Wethersfield is being opposed by the animal-rights group Friends of Animals, based in Darien.
“This practice attracts tourists but at the expense of living beings,” said Joan Lownds, Friends of Animals staff writer. “It’s just not necessary.”
A carriage ride may not be necessary, but in a town that prides itself on its historical and aesthetic value, it makes perfect sense.
The purpose is “to enhance the visitor experience, and the residents’ experience as well,” said Peter Gillespie, director of planning and economic development. The rides will be guided, directing architecture and history buffs to sites of interest.
Edita Birnkrant is Friends of Animals’ campaign coordinator for the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages in New York City, and is working with the Wethersfield campaign.
While she has concerns about the safety of the horse, drivers and passengers, her underlying disagreement is more philosophical - and extreme. Birnkrant says her primary concern is the “disrespect” to horses carriage rides communicate.
“It’s the idea that we have the right to force any animal to do what we want. They’re not here to pull carriages for us,” she said.
Respect for Birnkrant is to “not intervene” in the lives of animals. “They exist for their own reasons, we don’t have to know why,” Birnkrant said.
She sees animal rights as the logical continuation of the civil rights and women’s rights movements.
“We’ve evolved past human slavery,” Birnkrant said.
The Friends of Animals group holds that all use of animals by people is wrong. They advocate veganism and offer a vegan cookbook called “Dining With Friends.”
Town manager Bonnie Therrien signed a $25,000 grant from the state July 19 for funding the rides, and advertisements for bids on the contract will go out Aug. 20. The winning bidder will be announced at the Town Council meeting in September.
Therrien has received nearly a dozen letters in opposition to the proposed carriage rides on the grounds of animal rights, and Lownds called councilman Martin Walsh to ask how the horses will be handled. Walsh doesn’t know, as a contractor has not been named yet, but said residents are free to voice their concerns at council meetings where the issue could arise.
“It seems to me horses have pulled carriages for a long time, but I’ll certainly listen to their concerns,” Walsh said.
Gillespie is trying to accommodate those concerns, requiring applicants for the contract to provide information about the care of the horses.
“One of the criteria is the welfare of the animals,” he said.
The town intends to go through with the project, providing they find an operator for the rides.
“These operations occur all over the country,” Gillespie said.
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12 Comments
On July 30, 2007, Maj. PJD Allatt, USAF (Ret) wrote:
Re: Wethersfield carraiges
1) It is ridiculous to allow such nonsense to aid the town in this way !!
2) Why is the State giving them $25000 of our money for this purpose ?
You should set-up an address of our Hartford Reps. so we can blast them
Contact List of Wethersfield Area Politicians:
Wethersfield Town Manager- Bonnie Therrien
860-721-2801
Bonnie.therrien@wethersfieldct.com
Wethersfield Economic Development Manager-Peter Gillespie
860-721-2837
peter.gillespie@wethersfieldct.com
Mayor Andrew S. Adil (D)
860-257-8176
andrew.adil@wethersfield.org
Dep. Mayor Christine T. Fortunato (D)
860-529-3828
cfortunato@wethersfield.org
State Senator John Fonfara (D-Wethersfield)
860-240-0043
Fonfara@senatedems.ct.gov
State Representative Antonio Guerrera (D-Wethersfield)
860-240-8585
Tony.Guerrera@cga.ct.gov
State Representative Russell Morin (D-Wethersfield)
1-800-842-8267
Russell.Morin@cga.ct.gov
On July 30, 2007, Shirley Campbell wrote:
I lived in New York City for many years and often took walks through Central Park. On one occassion the temperature was 105 and a carriage driver was pushing his horse much too hard. The horse fell to the ground and the driver proceeded to whip him and tried to make him get up. Unfortunately the horse died at the scene from dehydration and heat. It was a terrible sight I will never forget. The people around the horse were trying to stop him from hitting the animal and he just got even more angry…
On July 30, 2007, Tamaira wrote:
i never thought about it like this but now i see whats happening and it needs to STOP!!
On July 30, 2007, Concerned Individual wrote:
I think this is completely asinine. Why bother having horses or any pets what so ever if you cannot enjoy them. To me riding and carriage driving are not abusive…when the animal is cared for properly.
If you don’t like it Joan..then don’t support it.
At what point are we going to with this? The people who I know who have horses that they trail ride, show, and compete with give their horses the best care.
I think there are more important animal cruelty issues to be dealt with then carriage horses.
What about the dog fighting rings? Or animal testing?
If you agree with Joan I think you really need to re evaluate things.
What is this world coming to!
[Blog editors note: Please remember that posts are taken more seriously when writers have the courage of their convictions and identify themselves, as the Friends of Animals activists did. Thank you for considering the points made in the article.]
On July 30, 2007, Pat wrote:
I was born and raised in NYC and I totally disapprove of horse and carriage rides. The poor dear horses are used as beasts of burden. It’s all about the money. Not to mention the traffic. How many times have we seen a horse bolt in traffic. This is cruel punishment for the horse. Remember, this is the city not a lovely country road. Outlaw this practice please!!!!!!!!!!
On July 30, 2007, Pat wrote:
This is my second comment. I do not think money should be given for this practice.
On July 30, 2007, Tony wrote:
Certainly, no animal should be abused or pushed too hard. Having said that, Wethersfield is NOT NYC, and any comparison between the two towns is laughable at best. Are horserides necessary in this case? No, of course not. But human beings have a long-standing relationship with horses, as well as other domesticated animals. As long as there is no abuse going on, this should not be an issue. Put your energy into saving the abused animals, and human beings who are sick, abused, homeless, and in poverty.
On July 30, 2007, Lorie wrote:
Are you kidding me? Protests such as this is why people view Friends of the animals and similar groups with a jaundiced eye. I grew up with horses, dogs and cats for that matter. We’re not talking animal animal abuse here. The NYC examples of animal abuse,the overworking to the point of dehydration,whipping etc. is an example of someone who has little to no regard for animals and needed to be charged with animal abuse. Not everyone who has a working relationship with animals is abusive. That needs to be recognized. If we want to be taken seriously when there are cases of abuse and neglect then we need to seriously consider which issues we blow a gasket about.
On July 30, 2007, Jared wrote:
Oh, come on, really the horses are deeply cared for and treated better than some people! Hell what is next, tell the Amish that they need to quit the horse and buggy because it is bad for the horse? Or what about the horses the Border Patrol uses, IN THE DESERT
On July 30, 2007, Janet Hoedl wrote:
I have owned and breed Arabians for 37 yrs. I have a mare that loves pulling a carriage and several that got jealous if they were not the horse going for a ride. If horses are given the respect and care they deserve, they interact well with people and enjoy being busy. Domesticated cared for horses live long happy lives these days.
On July 31, 2007, Ellie wrote:
Exploiting conscious living beings for whatever purpose an owner deems appropriate is abuse in and of itself. In their natural state, horses run free. They mate when and with whom they please. They have families. They socialize in their group. They own themselves! That horses have long been our property; that some are treated well; that Wethersfield is not NYC, doesn’t change the fact that our ownership denies their right to experience their lives on their own terms. Instead of controlling horses, we should be controlling our selfish interest in beings who rightfully belong to their own world, not ours.
On July 31, 2007, augustus wrote:
I know people who have carriages and wangons. In Upstate New York we have a historic site with a vehicle free 5 mile road. There are two companies which use draft animals to haul gear an d canoes to the site. These people love their animals. Living in Saratoga, horses are a way of life. I have worked with them at a college stable. If this town has no traffic problems I see no problem. The NYC incidents mentioned are the minority, and the people involved should be punished. Yet, I find most horse owners love their animals, as do most handlers. Thank you for the forum.