Will Prospect Park Horses Be Out Of A Job?

The Kensington Stables owner, Walker Blankinship, is speaking out some more prior to finding out if his business will need to meet new regulations instituted by the Department of Health. The new rules may cost him too much money to keep horseback riding available in Prospect Park, and he recently told the NY Post, "If I have to go to box stalls, I have no intention of maintaining any horseback riding in Prospect Park. If I’m putting a two-foot-high pony in an eight-foot-high stall to appease animal rights activists, then I’m not wanted here. I’m going to leave.” Just like the new rules proposed for Central Park's carriage horses, other costly changes would include a sprinkler system and a 5-week vacation for horses. His fate will be sealed at a meeting in March, stay tuned...

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Jen Carlson in News on February 17, 2010 2:35 PM

Comments [rss]

snappaloosa

There really needs to be a line of demarcation drawn between carriage horses and riding horses. There is a vast difference between a large horse who runs on hard asphalt for 9 hours a day in all weather while pulling a carriage, and a riding horse or pony who is working on dirt or grass and carrying one rider at a time for a max of 2-3 hrs a day with significant rest periods between lessons. The riding horses at our city barns have ample down time. A 5-week furlough is ridiculous considering how little these horses work all winter long. And the sad reality is that when these barns close, the horses will go to slaughter because there's no place else to send them. I wish I could say differently, but I've already seen it happen with Forest Equine in Queens.

Maria

That stable is a dump and long over due for a total rehab; adequate housing for these poor horses. I doubt it will happen since the owner is a scum bag and thus fear the fate of the poor animals he's been pimpin.

eflash

we have a law mandating a 5-week vacation for horses!? are you fucking kidding me? I don't know a single HUMAN with that much vacation time.

fuboy

You do. Most humans you know have regularly scheduled days off called 'weekends'.

These horses do not have such a luxury. And those weekend days off we humans get account for 104 days of the year, 34 more than the suggested 5 weeks off for the horses. So, they're still not getting what humans get. Is that okay with you eflash?

You know what? Screw it - you want to be outraged? Work the next 365 days without a day off, carrying a quarter of your own weight for six to nine hours a day. Then I'll listen to you.

thefacts

What really is inhumane is that he is not contributing to the horses' 401-k plan.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

401K plan? These horses are dump in slaughter houses.

eflash

um, these are horses.

glennQNYC

I don't blame Mr. Blankinship for taking his football home. I just hope supporters of this example of over regulation feel better knowing that they just effectively removed an opportunity for people to be exposed to an experience not easily found in the middle of NYC.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

umh, you're an idiot.

fuboy

Correct, they are horses. That is what this story is about.

Were you trying to make a point with that statement of the obvious?

youngpro

you didnt know? non-humans are supposed to be treated better than humans.

FelixtheCat & Christine Quinn'

Walker Blankinship is an ASS, I hear him speak at the hearing and he talked about compassion and yet won't improve theses horses' condition. Also one of his trainers mention that horse turnout is a luxury such as a massage and not everyone has massages.

Note that city council Brad Lander paraded such girl as a princess and mentioned that they love to groom their ponies but made no mention on the unsanitary and cruelty involved. Brad Lander is an asshole. Vote him out next time.

suziegoombs

Screw this guy. He's a jerk (even to paying customers) and the stable-if you can call it that- is disgusting. The entire block smells like maure. Horses do not belong in the city, period. Sure it will be "sad" that the last stable in Brooklyn closes but if the place is a shithole does it really matter that much? I guess the rich Park Slope kids will have to go up to West Chester for their riding lessons instead.