The Central Park Blog » Carriage Horse Industry

Liam Neeson’s New Digs

John Moore — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 07:02:53 +0000

Liam Neeson declared on Jon Stewart’s show last week that he would be happy to move into one of the luxurious carriage horse stables in Hell’s Kitchen. Here’s a few photos of where he’d be moving to.

Pretty swank. As a supporter I’m sure Mr Neeson will be happy to have his picture taken at one of these lovely spots.

Really – who wouldn’t want to live here?

Liam Neeson Defends Horse-Drawn Carriage Industry

John Moore — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 02:32:17 +0000

Talk about disappointments – Liam Neeson, who has been a supporter of a great many humane efforts throughout the world, released a statement this week through the Irish Echo supporting the carriage horse industry. Referring to it as “iconic” and a “grand tradition” he also claimed he was another horse lover. Right. Well Mr. Neeson, as much as my respect for you as an actor remains unchanged, I do have to question whether you actually took the time to find out the facts before you made this statement, appealing to misguided sentiments; trying to pretend it’s 1889 instead of 2009. I believe that all of those people should have jobs as well, and since my grandmother and grandfather regaled me with tales of growing up in Kerry I would like to think I am sensitive to the fact that many of the drivers are Irish-American.

But, I wonder Mr. Neeson – is this the picture you were thinking of that is so iconic? Or do you imagine the horses trudging back to their tenements in Hell’s Kitchen as being part of the grand tradition? Have you taken the time to visit their stables? Or would availing yourself of the uncomfortable facts make you an “extrmemist”? How about a short quiz? How many horses have perished in traffic accidents in the last 20 years? How many is too many? How much shorter is a carriage horse’s life than a police mount?

How many hours a week do they work? Or – maybe you saw them out working the past few weeks in snow storms and sub-zero wind chills – does the sight of a horse trudging behind a bus, inhaling the exhaust make you wax poetic? Did you know that New York has the highest carriage-horse accident rate in the country, a fact that came to light after the death of Smoothie on Sept. 14, 2007?

I did not grow up with horses, I grew in the suburbs, so it was my grandmother’s stories of growing up on a farm in Ireland that informed my conscience towards animals. There is nothing about the existence of these animals that is, in fact, picturesque or traditional. They have no pastures to walk in, no life besides the joyless sounds of traffic, the blare of horns, the constant cacophony of New York streets. Lawn jockeys were once iconic, slavery once considered a vital component of the country’s economy. In fact, according to my grandmother, Irish immigrants were once treated with a little bit less than respect in this city. But I guess, at that time, it was just considered another grand tradition, eh Mr. Neeson?

Animal Advocates Protest Against Carriage-Horse Industry In Central Park

John Moore — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 02:41:36 +0000

Animal rights activists braved frigid weather and gathered at Central Park South Thursday, Jan. 1st to protest the treatment of carriage horses. The protest against horse-drawn carriage rides occurred as the City Council gets ready to consider a ban on the controversial tourist attraction.”You can’t have horse-drawn carriages in New York City without the public safety issues and the inherent animal cruelty issues,” said Edita Birnkrant, a spokeswoman for Friends of Animals.

Horse Drawn Carriage in the Snow

She pointed out that horses went to work in a snowstorm last month, and one slipped on an icy street.

Animal welfare advocates rallied in the frigid weather, shouting, “Shame on you!” at the crowd of tourists lined up for rides. The City Council is set to debate a bill later this month that would shut down the industry.

Carriage Horses Forced To Work In Snowstorm

John Moore — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 19:31:19 +0000

Yesterday morning, at the height of the winter snowstorm, horse were forced to work pulling carriages along dangerously icy streets. This in complete violation of the law. When called at 10:00 AM the ASPCA insisted that the horses were not working. Donny Moss, the producer and director of Blinders: the Truth Behind the Tradition, was on Central Park South taking video. The ASPCA seems to be woefully out of touch.

More interesting videos: They show consistent overcharging – particularly now that it is the holiday season. The going rate is $34 for 20 minutes. There is no sales tax.Yet the drivers ask for a tax from unsuspecting tourists. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSun_1Ly6ro&feature=channel

As a warning this second video includes offensive language – so beware. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbZR4FZZQRM&feature=channel

The Shoe Has Landed, Quinn Supports Extending Term Limits

John Moore — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 00:01:48 +0000

Spontaneous Demonstraions of Support Scheduled Throughout the Week.
We are relieved to report that Council member Quinn has returned from that dark Gethsemane of the soul to announce that she is indeed in favor of extending term limits. Quite a startling development. Really. We had no idea.

It would be only the most cynical of observers that would think that this reversal from her avowed position of less than one year ago was in fact a fait accompli; an action motivated by personal ambition and political self interest.

Just as her endorsement of the carriage horse industry can only be a position based on careful consideration of the facts and a commitment to the safety of New Yorkers as well as the humane treatment of animals.

Bravo.