Protests to Ban Horse Drawn Carriages in Georgia U.S.

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When an image surfaces of a horse that has collapsed in the street from exhaustion pulling a carriage, it draws attention and outcries for an end to horse drawn carriages but then just as quickly the issue is swept under the rug. Unfortunately, horses are still seen as service animals and therefore these events don't trigger enough of a response from our governments who still allow this method of transportation but the fact is, horse drawn carriages NEED to be banned on a global level.

Photo taken from WAN

These images are saddening and depict a sad reality for many horses across the globe who are forced to pull carriages for hours on end a day. For every picture like the one above you see, there are several more that go undocumented and that is extremely concerning. Historically, horses were used to help carry loads and as a means of transportation before vehicles became mainstream. As cars and public transit became more mainstream, places around the world continued to use horse drawn carriages as more of a nostalgic means of travel without considering the problems that arise with this.

These horses now work as though they are on shifts and are often forced to work for hours upon hours a day regardless of the weather whereas before they may not have been tasked with pulling carriages all day and night. These horses now continue to work throughout the day without any consideration for their well being not to mention the additional dangers they face in today's times. They are often weaving in and out of traffic which certainly causes them stress, they are breathing in toxic emissions from the vehicles that surround them, and they face the possibility of vehicle collisions. It is not safe for horse drawn carriages on the roads today and yet we continue to employ them to do so because people find it nostalgic to pay money to be pulled around by them. This must stop.

There is absolutely no need for horse drawn carriages any longer and we must realize that these horses suffer tremendously for our pleasure. They're collapsing to the ground because they can no longer physically do their jobs and often times people rally around in an attempt to pull the horse up off of the ground fearing for its well being but have absolutely no regard for them unless they've hit the pavement. This will continue to happen unless we collectively agree that they belong on farms and stables, free from the chains of employment that we have forced upon them.

This weekend, a peaceful protest will occur in downtown Savannah Georgia asking for an end to horse drawn carriages in the downtown core the city. The protest aims to bring attention to the danger the horses face as well as those who ride in the carriages after a horse collapsed from exhaustion trapping everyone inside the carriage and sending 4 people to the hospital. These sorts of frightening events are commonplace and as I said, we must come together and recognize that this means of transportation has no place in today's society. We must forget the past and leave horse drawn carriages in our history and move forward without them for the sake of these beautiful animals.

What do you guys think> Is it time to put an end to the horse drawn carriage?

HAPPY VEG