Public Voices for the New York City Carriage Horses

By Craig Sheldon
Manhattan

Opponents of the iconic NYC carriage horses, such as Ms. Barizone, are certainly entitled to have their opinions, but they are not entitled to their own facts. So when in her latest letter, Ms. Barizone suggests that the carriage horse stables in NYC are unsafe due to the risk of a fire, she is wrong. Each of the stables is equipped with modern sprinkler and ventilation systems to protect the horses from the risk of a fire. (Compare this to most private barns in rural areas that are not so equipped.) They meet the latest fire safety codes and undergo regular safety inspections.

In addition, stable hands are always on site to protect and watch over the horses. As for the stables being old, it is correct that the buildings themselves go back quite a ways, but the interiors where the horses are stabled have been continuously rehabbed and improved, most recently to increase the size of each stall, which are now more than ample enough for each horse to lie down on a bed of fresh hay, if they wish.

Ms. Barizone is correct to observe that the stables are a couple of stories high, but she is wrong to suggest that this is somehow detrimental to the horses. Walking up and down the ramps is no more difficult for these horses than it is for horses on a ranch to walk up and down gentle slopes. I’ve seen it dozens of times with my own eyes. So while I respect Ms. Barizone’s right to express her opinion, it is important that fellow New Yorkers know the actual facts.