Amid Heated a Debate Over Serious Animal Abuse, New York’s Carriage Drivers Appoint ‘Neutral’ Expert

In New York horse carriages have been part of the city for hundreds of years. They are a point of tourist attraction and people choose to tour the city in a traditional way. But, in recent times horse deaths have raised concerns about its safety and animal rights in general.

For, this New York’s carriage driver union has hired a neutral expert to look after the horses. They tend to show that they take the health of their horses seriously and are taking effective measures towards it. The rights activist do not take this into consideration amid calls for a ban on carriages.

Horse carriage union hire expert

The TWU Local 100 the representative of New York’s carriage drivers has announced that they are hiring an expert to look after the horse. The expert’s main job will be to find and problem in the horse and flag it to the driver for necessary corrective measures. They hired Tristian Aldrich a coachman and horse trainer who have worked in Buckingham Palace. He will provide weekly assessments on horse health to the union.

Speaking on the new hiring Pete Donohue, spokesman of TWU said, “his marching orders are, if he sees a problem, address it. He sees a horse limping address it“. During the hiring announcement, the union also said that they forming a safety committee comprising union drivers and stewards from each of the stables. The purpose of the committee is to identify medical concerns and operational issues. The union also hired an equine veterinarian by the name of Gabriel Cook. The veterinarian shall make two visits per month to the stables to check the horses.

The rights group has termed the announcement as a smoke screen. They say there is no clear evidence that how independent the new hiring is from the union. They claim the carriage industry is reliant on old horses. The issue got hot up after a horse was euthanized last year. After the investigation, it was found that the horse was of old age.

Hired expert shares his point on the horse carriage

The newly hired expert Tristian Aldrich said at the conference, “I wouldn’t say I’ve seen anything that is obviously upsetting. The horses are all happy, they’re all in good condition, and the drivers do everything they can to make sure the animals are looked after and taken care of.” He said he had been to the park six to eight times to observe the carriage. He further said that horses will be checked once a week in the 843-acre park.

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He will examine their physical condition, point out any possible issues, and advise best practices to the drivers. There are roughly 200 carriage horses for the industry’s 68 carriages. Speaking on his experience in England he said, “All the work in London that I did with the Palace horses, we were on the road all the time, Central London through Victoria, and right around the Palace, trooping the color, and changing the guards“. The union says they have always liked after the horses and never saw any problem. They shall continue to do so in the future.

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