Stop Supporting Cruel and Dangerous Horse-Drawn Carriages

dtownson@ucitymo.org, jfeier@ucitymo.org, peastman@ucitymo.org, jwatson@ucitymo.org, jmulliganjr@aol.com, dberry@ucitymo.org, etate@ucitymo.org, mlindmark@ucitymo.org, agutierrez@ucitymo.org, vlusher@ucitymo.org, fhill@ucitymo.org, ariganti@ucitymo.org, adams@ucitymo.org, rgwagner7052@yahoo.com, crow@cttlaw.net, lmglickert@yahoo.com, lricci@ucitymo.org, qforlifeasj@att.net, pricebyron@hotmail.com, askparker@soleandblues.com, corporate@headznthreadz.com, info@BigShark.com, customerservice@loricoulter.com, info@macrosun.com, info@pitayaonline.com, loopstore@savviwedding.com, info@tag-stl.com, laney@tag-stl.com, jenna@tag-stl.com, terri@tag-stl.com, tantrumstl@gmail.com, gomusicstl@gmail.com, info@vintagevinyl.com, customerservice@vintagevinyl.com, edwruder@sbcglobal.net, registrar@craftalliance.org, gallery@craftalliance.org, boo.mcloughlin@craftalliance.org, loopfaces@gmail.com, hansman@wustl.edu, burlesa@aol.com, bbouchein@savoyproperties.com, mdenckhoff@savoyproperties.com

Dear Madams and Sirs of Loop Businesses And Officials Of University City, Missouri:

"Edgy" and "hip" commonly describe the Delmar Loop in St. Louis. Animal abuse is neither edgy nor hip. Yet the Loop's trendy art co-ops, wine bars and boutiques may come to symbolize just that - if horse-drawn carriages parade down congested Delmar Boulevard.

I implore University City officials and business owners to reject inherently cruel and dangerous horse-drawn carriages. The notion that a sweaty horse trudging through traffic will draw tourists to shops, restaurants and bars is ridiculous. You're more likely to acquire protesters if horse-pulled rides become a Loop regular.

Some 50 Hansom cab accidents in New York City alone have injured or endangered both people and horses. In the city synonymous with horse-pulled cabs, NYC Council Members have introduced a bill (Int. No. 658) to ban them. I urge University City Council Members to do the same.

Horses are not designed to haul carriages through streets clogged with bikers, walkers, cars, busses and emergency vehicles. "The potential for injury is enormous and represents an extreme liability risk for the city as the licensing agent," says equine expert Holly Cheever, DVM.

A spooked horse may charge into a vehicle, as occurred on Central Park South in 2007. A passing motorcyclist, Tony Zappetti, claims the carriage careened sideways into his bike and that Bud, the wounded 12-year-old gelding, collapsed in pools of blood. Another collision broke a 71-year-old bicyclist's hip. Before that, a horse called Spotty hit a car at full gallop. His hind legs twisted over the roof and his head smashed into the street. Spotty died. The driver's critical injuries left him in a coma.

These incidents are but a sampling of hundreds more nationwide. People For The Ethical Treatment Of Animals and Coalition To Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages can offer more documentation.

Why would Loop business owners consider horse-drawn carriages while cities worldwide seek to ban them? Cities in Florida, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, New Jersey, South Carolina, England, France, China and Canada -including Las Vegas, Reno, Santa Fe, Biloxi, London, Paris, Beijing, Toronto- have already vetoed horse carriage operations.

Horses endure fatigue, dehydration, chronic hoof conditions and lameness as they lug bulky cabs over unyielding pavement in extreme heat or cold. Exhaust fumes lead to respiratory ailments and the animals frequently live in cramped stables with barely enough room to move.

Please count me among the many St. Louisans and tourists who support an
outright ban on horse-pulled carriages. I respectfully ask Mayor Adams to
assert his authority to prohibit them in University City. The possibility of horse-drawn buggies in the Loop presents a great opportunity for City
Council Members to introduce a bill to ban them. Hopefully, Loop businesses
will abandon this foolish and inhumane idea.

Sincerely,