Assignment #1

2006-05-04T14:53:00.000-07:00

On January 2nd 2006 in New York City, an accident involving a horse drawn carriage revived awareness to the issue of weather or not the horses should continue to be on the streets of The City. This has been a long debated controversy and many big cities worldwide have banned the horse and carriage from their city streets. In class we were asked to either pick a side or join a group that was not sure of their decision. I joined the group in support of the ban on horse drawn carriages in New York City.
I feel that the horse and carriage should be banned from the city, not because of this incident alone, but because horses simply do not belong on city streets or in city parks. The horses are disturbed and startled by the city noises, such as car horns and sirens, one of which led to this accident. In a group discussion the following issues were raised in reference to the health of the horse as well as the environment:
1. Horses' hooves cannot tolerate concrete surfaces, it wears them down.
2. The lives of the horses are cut short living in these conditions; on average they live only 4 years.
3. The horses breathe the polluted air of the city; their noses are about 2-3 feet from the ground.
4. The horses have to work in extreme hot and extreme cold conditions. Sometimes on hot days, horses are denied water to keep them from urinating.
5. The drivers of the horses do not go through extensive training, do not care for the horses and possibly lack the love for the horse that enables them to make money.
6. Urine from the horses could not be good for the environment, and the bags that catch their droppings smell horrible.
7. The city does not need the tourist revenue the horse and carriage provides as it is very minimal in the large scheme of things.
The issue was raised weather or not then horses should be banned from the streets but allowed in Central Park or during certain times in the park, ideally at night for a romantic ride. Our group was split on this issue. I identified with the side that felt the horses need to let go from the city landscape all together. As with all living beings, a horse needs to be in an atmosphere where they can feel at ease. The City has proved over and over again not to be a comfortable atmosphere for horses. According to Animal Rights Foundation of Florida, 85% of horses and carriage accidents in the United State are caused by the horse being spooked by the loud noises of the City. An in depth research can be viewed at the Animal Aid website. This website touches on all of the issues on why the horses should be banned.
Also, times have changed. Horse and carriages are not a necessity for transportation in the city and they do not fit in the landscape. I was watching the news the other night, and the reporter was in downtown Philadelphia. In the background was a horse drawn carriage mixed with the city traffic. Seeing this image confirmed my positon that the horse and carriage do not belong in any city, including New York.
This assignment was the first in a series of eight, geared toward the investigation of an urban environment. It was helpful assignment as a foundation to the many issues involved in a urban environment.

Top picture from Animal Right Foundation of Florida
Bottom picture from USA Today

Horse and Carriage Position

Assignment #1