BAN MILWAUKEE HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES
A Dangerous Practice.
Horse carriage rides, though seemingly harmless, pose a major safety risk to both horses and humans involved. Countless accidents have occurred that have resulted in the injury and/or death of the horses and passengers. Additionally, horses are forced to work in extreme conditions, inhaling toxic exhaust fumes with little to no breaks.
It’s Happening Locally.
In addition to the inherent danger and abuse that horse carriage rides possess, there have been specific cases of abuse documented in Milwaukee. A viral photograph shows an emaciated carriage horse who was forced to work despite being extremely malnourished. This, coupled with the fact that the primary local carriage company has been operating without a license for the past two years, warrants an immediate investigation into the business and their practices.
You Can Help.
The good news is that you can make a difference. We can work together in order to get this archaic practice shut down and replaced with safe and innovative alternatives. Consider participating in our daily and weekly action alerts in order to make our voices heard.
THE SITUATION IN MILWAUKEE
Nick the horse. July, 2021. Milwaukee, WI
In early July 2021, a City of Milwaukee limo driver came across an emaciated horse who was pulling a carriage in the city. The photo he took was posted online and was met with public outrage. The horse was identified as twenty one year-old, “Nick” who was in the care of Milwaukee Coach and Carriage Company LLC.
In response to the backlash, Milwaukee Coach and Carriage Company made a Facebook post explaining why Nick was in such terrible condition (posted below). However, the post received an overwhelmingly negative response and resulted in the Company completely removing their Facebook business page.
Fortunately, the company made the compassionate choice to surrender Nick to a horse rescue where he will be able to live out the rest of his life free from exploitation. A photo found of Nick online shows the drastic improvement to his health in just one week of being surrendered.
We were able to get in contact with the rescue and discovered that Nick was 400lbs underweight upon intake. As of today, (Aug 6. 2021) the rescue has already spent $1800 in dental work and has accrued additional food costs due to Nick’s enormous appetite. The rescue is anticipating more veterinary bills as well as other expenses due to his condition.
If you would like to donate directly to Nick’s care you can do so here.
Nick’s story prompted activists with Milwaukee Animal Save to look more into the company and discover that Milwaukee Coach and Carriage LLC has been operating without a license since 2019. Further investigation is needed in order to understand the implications of this, and what it means as far as the protection/safety of the horses and operators as well as the passengers who ride with them.
Milwaukee Animal Save is requesting that the City of Milwaukee provides documentation for their oversight of licenses of all carriages allowed to operate in the city. We also request inspection reports and an explanation as to how they are monitoring these working horses under the city ordinances. Finally we are asking that the City of Milwaukee immediately acts to enforce horse carriage license violations.
If you have any additional information that you’d be willing to provide about Milwaukee horse-drawn carriages (anonymously or otherwise), please fill out the form below:
HOW YOU CAN HELP
Daily Action Alerts
We will soon be implementing daily/weekly action alerts in order to get horse carriage rides shut down in Milwaukee for good! Actions will include calling and writing our congresspeople in order to urge them to ban carriage rides in leu of safer and more forward-thinking practices. Be sure to check back soon for task lists and more!
In the meantime sign and share our petition!
…And add us on social media
THE DANGERS OF HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES
Unsafe Working Conditions.
Horses who are forced to pull carriages are subjected to abhorrant working conditions such as extreme weather, reckless drivers, and little to no breaks. They may develop respiratory ailments from having to breathe in exhaust fumes, and may suffer lameness due to walking on the hard pavement.
Although it is generally thought that horses are built to pull heavy weight, it is actually unnatural for them. Being forced to do so on a daily basis causes horses to sustain injuries, and ones that can be serious or even life-threatening.
Accidents Waiting to Happen.
There have been accidents involving carriages and drivers in nearly every city where carriages are permitted. Horses are animals who are very sensitive to loud and sudden sounds, and once spooked both horses and their passengers have been badly injured, or even killed.
Although the City of Milwaukee has yet to experience a carriage-related fatality, it is important to be proactive in preventing a tragedy that is so easily avoidable.
Click here for a comprehensive list of fatalities involving horse carriages.
No Protection for Horses.
Carriage horses are afforded no protection under the federal Animal Welfare Act and so it falls on local officials to look out for their welfare. More commonly than not, local officials do not have the time or resources to regularly monitor the carriages or enforce regulations, if any.
There are also no laws which prevent, old, sick or lame horses from being sent to slaughter. Because it is generally considered to be cost-prohibitive to provide adequate veterinary care to horses who are not bringing in revenue, horses are typically discarded if and when they become “problematic”.
Seeking Solutions.
We are not calling for an end to all carriage rides- just to the ones that exploit horses while endangering their passengers. A simple and charming alternative to horse carriages are bicycle carriages, otherwise known as pedicabs. Unlike carriage horses, the humans who operate pedicabs work with regulations and protections which afford them freedom and safety within their jobs.
Another alternative that has been gaining traction globally is the Electric Horseless Carriage. Electric Vehicles (EV’s) are on the rise and it is now possible to purchase an electric carriage for as little as $2000. Supporting this EV alternative would be more cost effective than using horses, as they require less maintenance and are easier to house. They could work for long hours without the need for breaks and they would ultimately be safer and more reliable.
