Carriage Horse Vs. Bus In Midtown

Pic of the accident scene, taken by Merry Orling

We received a tip today from Merry Orling about yet another horse carriage collision, this time with a bus in midtown, that she witnessed this week:

A horse wearing blinders and pulling a carriage was hit by a NYC bus in midtown Manhattan at rush hour. The incident occurred on 7th Avenue at around 54th Street at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 3. The horse, grazed by the bus, was spooked and evidently frightened out of his/her wits. After exchanging info - maybe regarding insurance claims, the drivers resumed travel downtown. I was amazed (and saddened) by the behavior of the carriage driver: He did not even bother to check the condition of his horse, nor did he offer any comfort to the animal, who looked much the worse for wear.
What on earth is a horse doing in rush hour traffic in midtown Manhattan?

I recently returned to the US after living abroad for many years. I can't believe the city has sunk so low! I'd like to know what the mayor is waiting for to ban horse-drawn carriages, which are cruel, unnecessary, and dangerous.

According to Elizabeth Forel, of the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages, horse drawn carriages are not allowed between 57th St. and 42 St., and between 7th and 9th avenues before 11:30 p.m. at night. She told us: "The law is very clear on this -- WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS A PASSENGER. The ASPCA has told me that they will ONLY give a ticket if the driver has a passenger. This is also not a direct route back to the stable. That would be three blocks west on 9th Avenue. The ASPCA is making up their own interpretation of the law favoring the drivers." The City Council passed legislation earlier this year to improve conditions for horses, including five weeks vacation in the country, but many are still unsatisfied with the cosmetic improvements, and are angered that the horse carriage industry still even exists in NYC.

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

By Ben Yakas in News on November 6, 2010 5:55 PM

Comments [rss]

blue maze

hmm horses have no roof that would be nice but there being forced to walk and put a huge carrage on there back so i chose...bus

*Watcher*

Sorry for the multiples. That stew would also be really good with veggie burgers instead of horse meat and pancetta. Horses have gone into countless battles with humans. They deserve more than to end up on your plate.

Cannibal

Actually a proper substitute would be venison. Veggie burgers are already processed and partially cooked godknowswhat, so if you tried this recipe with 'veggie burger' you would end up with a texturally disintegrated inedible mass.

Cannibal

I agree. I also ride them.

Cannibal

Culatello & Picula de Caval: a tasty Emilian horsemeat stew.

Ingredients:

* 2 1/4 pounds (1 k) ground horsemeat

* 2 onions, minced

* 2 1/2 ounces (60 g) ground cured lard or pancetta

* 1 tablespoon olive oil

* 1 glass dry white wine

* 6 ripe tomatoes, blanched, peeled, seeded, chopped and drained

* 2 bell peppers, ribbed and seeded, then diced

* 2 tablespoons minced fresh herbs (basil, sage and rosemary in proportions to taste)

* 1 clove garlic, minced

* Salt & freshly ground pepper

Preparation:

Begin by heating the oil, lard and onion in a skillet; sauté until the onion has become golden (don't let it really brown), then add the horsemeat and brown it, stirring it about frequently. When it has browned, sprinkle in the glass of wine, reduce the heat to barely a simmer, cover, and cook for at least an hour. Mix in the chopped tomatoes and diced peppers and continue cooking a half hour longer.

10 minutes before you remove the dish from the fire, sprinkle the minced herbs over everything. Serve it hot. Some prefer to use broth rather than wine as the liquid, and I would suggest that this will work quite nicely with polenta.

Horses and midtown traffic don't mix. But they do pair well with Amarone or Valpolicella Superiore, or a Cabernet-Merlot blend along the lines of Valcalepio.

jackrusso

when these things happens it's always sad...and sad this city doesnt do anything about this. instead we'll let these lowlife carriage drivers who could care less about their animals welfare. these guys are total dirtbags.

DangerousHDCs

"The city ... IS fine with it."

DangerousHDCs

@Rasputinsghost, Sorry if you don't like it. This sad excuse of an industry is propped up by the city, who turns its head with regard to monitoring and oversight. The drivers break the laws routinely in every conceivable fashion--and the city, including the Department of Consumer Affairs and the Department of Health--are fine with it. The ASPCA does absolutely nothing. And although most New Yorkers want to see an end to the exploitation and inhumane treatment of the horses, nothing ever changes. Why? Largely because of Christine Quinn, who strong-arms those on the City Council who live in fear of her. She is a real creep who has duped the public for far too long.

So, again, sorry if this is upsetting news to you. But apathy never helped anyone's cause.

rasputinsghost

Hey Gothamist, when the hell did this page become a venue for a shit-flinging contest? Shut this shit down already, please.

FelixtheCat Christine Quinns

BAN HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGES AND DUMP CHRIS QUINN FOR HER APATHY.

youngpro

how about gothamist ban YOU? that's a start. what with all your wonton disregard for human life and actively and regularly issuging death threats to public figures, the liability you pose to gothamist llc is astronomical. not to mention you have violatesd just about every rule in the commenter terms of service.

youngpro

sorry for all the typos- but yuo get the point, felix the pussy cat.

JaneBeck

TheFacts is from the carriage industry, and that doesn't change the facts: the accident happened, was unnecessary, resulted from illegal activity, and the miracle is that neither the horse nor people were seriously injured or killed. This time.

ASPCA is useless and what a scam. Its sole function is to dupe the public into thinking that it "monitors" or "oversees" this corrupt industry. What garbage.

This is so damn stupid--the city should do the right thing and put an end to this dangerous, corrupt, and inhumane industry. If tourists only knew the truth.

Eva, why don't you go eat a steak or something before post your address.

Eva

JaneBeck - who are you talking to? thefacts is not me. Fairly clueless, as usual.

thefacts

Your first post on Gothamist and you demonstrated not only your arrogance but your ignorance. Not to mention your craziness. Typical.

JaneBeck

My first post? Not.

Stop trying to confuse the public worse than it already is. Some of the facts are evident: The horses are dispirited and put in harm's way every day. Other facts, less so. The public might as well learn about the fraud that is the ASPCA, the laws that are disregarded, the conditions of the stables, and the accidents that we know about.

thefacts

Why don't you wage a campaign to help the oppressed humans who must bear tourists around midtown traffic in pedicabs?

Why not wage a campaign against rickshaw drivers in Asia?

Why not wage a campaign to prevent cyclists from having to travel in midtown traffic?

Or don't you give a damn about humans?

Not your first post! I stand corrected.

I see you only emerge from the woodwork when an animal is concerned: pigeons, geese, horses.

Why are you silent when cruel humans want to exterminate bedbugs?

Why your silence when we poison intelligent mammals, like rats?

No need to reply. Just crawl back in the woodwork

*Watcher*

The people who use pedicabs have a choice of what temperatures they work in, when they take a break to rest, when to drink or eat something. The carriage horses don't have any choices at all. They don't have a voice to speak english, to fight for their rights like people do. And just because I fight for animals does not mean I don't fight for people as well. Saying that doesn't even make sense. One of the many reasons people are working to get the electric vintage cars used is so people don't lose jobs and an income. That they can have health insurance which drivers aren't provided with right now. The electric vintage cars are a win for the horses and a win for people. A win for the people who live in the area as well. It smells god awful the majority of the time, something you can't portray through videos. It isn't fair to the PEOPLE who live there.

The carriage drivers do back ground checks on anyone who tries to stand up to them, to try and PERSONALLY humiliate them. It's just wrong on so many different levels. The drivers use anger, fear, and threats to try and scare away people trying to end this inhumane and cruel industry. So professional. I hear from so many people who tell stories of absolutely awful things the carriage drivers do - this industry is having it's last days and good riddance.

thefacts

Horses should have choices?? ROTFL

In this country, there are many who want to repeal a women's right to choose! And you worry about a horse?!?

Show me in the law where horses have ;choice'.

ps, horses are humans, although PETAphiles think they are.

Rickshaw drivers and pedicab operators have a choice not to work?

Tell them that when they have to pay the rent or feed their starving family!

Carriage drivers don't have health insurance? Neither do I. Neither do millions.

What have you done to ensure universal health coverage?

I've lobbied. Have you?

You help humans as much as animals? I defy you to list your resumé showing how you helped the homeless, the starving, AIDS afflicted, the politically oppressed.

PETAphiles rarely can.

*Watcher*

The people who use pedicabs have a choice of what temperatures they work in, when they take a break to rest, when to drink or eat something. The carriage horses don't have any choices at all. They don't have a voice to speak english, to fight for their rights like people do. And just because I fight for animals does not mean I don't fight for people as well. Saying that doesn't even make sense. One of the many reasons people are working to get the electric vintage cars used is so people don't lose jobs and an income. That they can have health insurance which drivers aren't provided with right now. The electric vintage cars are a win for the horses and a win for people. A win for the people who live in the area as well. It smells god awful the majority of the time, something you can't portray through videos. It isn't fair to the PEOPLE who live there.

The carriage drivers do back ground checks on anyone who tries to stand up to them, to try and PERSONALLY humiliate them. It's just wrong on so many different levels. The drivers use anger, fear, and threats to try and scare away people trying to end this inhumane and cruel industry. So professional. I hear from so many people who tell stories of absolutely awful things the carriage drivers do - this industry is having it's last days and good riddance.