Carriage Drivers Try Talking Horse Sense

By MICHELLE MARUS

Horse-drawn carriage rides through Central Park and the environs are emblematic of a romantic New York City.

Mayor Bill de Blasio, however, and certain animal activists want to ban them and replace them with electric cars. The horses have no say in the matter, but their drivers can still voice their opinions of displeasure.

“Nobody wants them [the electric cars],” said carriage driver Ian Biesinger. “The electric car is a failed business. It’s been tested in other major cities like San Francisco and failed. If they do this they will be handing us our demise.”

Tourists and New Yorkers alike have enjoyed the rides since the park first opened in 1858. The horse-carriage industry represents a wide-demographic of working class Americans.

“This whole electric car thing is not going to work,” said another driver, Alex Arian. “People come here for horse carriages not just a carriage ride. Everybody says they love the horses. They are not interested in a car ride.”

Animal activists contend the industry endangers horses who get spooked by traffic noises and other aspects of city life. Last week a carriage horse named Spartacus fell over on the sidewalk on 59^th Street and was pinned to the ground by the carriage. Some observers said he was startled by a bus but carriage drivers denied this version.

“These carriages do no harm to the horses, it gives them good exercise,” said Biesinger. “The electric prototypes are not even street legal or safe yet. This is the safest business on the street.”

More recently a Manhattan judge ordered that the police department hand over records of its enforcement and oversight of the industry. The police, however, say they have no records from 2009 alleging that other city agencies like the Department of Health were responsible for record-keeping.

“The public has a right to know about the health, safety and well being” [of the horses], ruled Judge Schlomo Hagler.

“Anything that happens in the streets should be public,” said Biesinger.

The horse-carriage drivers say that the Consumer Affairs Department is responsible for public records such as inspections, accidents, tickets, and any other problems the drivers have. These documents are in the carriage in plain view. According to the drivers, the ASPCA handles health records like checkups and working shifts, while the Health Department handles the vet records and licensing of the horses.

“These horses have a better life quality here in the city than they do on the farms,” argued Arian. “They have three months of off-time when it is too hot or too cold, and five weeks of vacation. Who else do you know that has that?”

The City Council – where opinion was divided on the subject – was expected soon to vote on the matter.

Mr. Ed could not be reached for comment.