WIBU to go on a horse and carriage ride?

[pandaporter]

Paid for it, but went down there to have a look and the horses just look so sad and cold :( is it cruel? I don't really know, so would like some opinions.

Where is this?

Are the horses shiny, healthy, not thin or dirty?

What makes you think they look cold? Working horses can stay pretty warm, though they should have rugs when standing around.

Got a photo of said horses?

Opinions differ. Where I am there are campaigns to stop it.

It's not cruel to ride in a carriage drawn by a horse as such, horses are strong animals and under the right circumstances well able to draw a carriage. It is, however, cruel to go on a carriage ride if the horse isn't well cared for and well treated, which is often the case in touristy cities where you get lots of these all lined up waiting to take tourists about the place.

Some look well, but it is a touristy place, lots lined up. I saw a really sweet one who looked so small and exhausted and it's little head was drooping so low and just trying to keep going :( I just felt sorry for it.

Where are you Panda? (seriously, it makes a lot more sense of the type of horse care if I know where inthe world you are).

In some places like the Pyramids in egypt, the horses are often underweight, knackered, hurting... BUT they are also the owners only source of income and if they don't work, no one gets fed... and that includes the horse.

In a place like THAT I would hire the horse and carriage for the hour... but then spend that hour just fussing the horse, not actually going anywhere! Id also see if you can get the horse a drink or food or something, though thats not always going to be possible.

Currently in America. DD is receiving treatment here but wanted to do something nice on Christmas, she's only a baby.

I'm just not sure I liked the look of it all. That little horse has really stuck in my mind :( some looked nice but I don't know...

In NYC I wouldn't hire one, there was a campaign to stop them.

No way. They are meant to have been banned by now, it really is disgusting. Central Park is magical enough in the winter without animal cruelty.

If it's NYC I wouldn't ride them personally after seeing how some are treated.

Sounds sad and going on the ride will just make you feel bad. Sorry

Panda! How is DD? I posted a thread looking for you then realised this was you...is everything ok?

We went to a resort in Majorca, lovely hotel etc but the horse and carriage rides in the boiling heat really upset me. The poor horses weren't given enough water and shade. My dh wants to go back but I won't, I hate to see animals suffering.

If you are in NYC, then no. The owners aren't purposely cruel but the horses spend much of their lives in the city traffic which is not ideal and have limited access to grass, relaxation time etc. Plus there is a bit of a black hole as to what happens once they are too old to work..

Depends where you are. In Krakow I saw the fattest horse I'd ever seen, clearly very well cared for as well. Lots of effort being put into rugs, feeding the horses at stops, etc etc.

In NYC, no way.

In lots of other touristy places, also no way - shifts way too long, left in boiling heat, horses underweight, tack not fitting, the list goes on and on.

No way, and tell the business exactly why!

I thought you'd decided to come home though? How come they've sent you to America?

user - I'll update my other thread. They have decided she's better off on a trial.

Ok...I hope it's all going well Panda. You and DD have been in my thoughts. And others too Im sure.x

I just read that Liam Neeson has been campaigning for keeping the NYC carriage horses so the ban is probably off. Hope dd has a good day whatever you decide to do.

2 years ago... I do wonder what the delay is though..

Was in New Orleans one year, there was a very lame horse. Made my blood boil. Another time, there were canyon rides offered, DH wanted me to go (I own my own at home) but I took one look at the lack of shade, horses tied up all day, no water and walked away. I would-sadly-almost expect this state of affairs in a less developed country, having seen the TV campaigns, but to see it in America really shocked me.

I'm a horse owner. I have never ridden in one of these city-centre tourist carriages, and I would not do so.

The horses have a very tough life, and walking on Tarmac / cobbles all day is very hard on their legs & feet. Most of the horses I have seen pulling these carriages appear to be in poor condition. Several have been obviously lame.