Donna Stein (lifelong New Yorker) testifies supporting ban
Donna Stein, a lifelong New Yorker, testifies about 20 years of advocacy, cites 128 accidents since 1982 and 29 work-related horse deaths, and argues hitching posts invite disaster by inviting drivers to leave horses.
Okay.
Now my time starts.
Okay.
My name is Donna Stein.
I am speaking for myself and for C.
White, lifelong New Yorkers and lifelong horse lovers.
20 years ago, Newsweek wrote, New York has the highest carriage horse accident rate in the country.
The industry called for hitching posts, driver training.
Newsweek feared only a human death could end it now.
Now the eyes of the world are on us.
Safe, humane, horse-drawn carriages are not possible in New York because of the nature of the city.
Dangerous urban traffic, crowded parks, all horses spook, prey animals, wary of danger.
They bolt and run for their lives.
128 accidents since 1982, 29 work-related horse deaths, now remorse.
Plus, lives shortened by overwork and slaughter, no turnout to pasture, which horses, working horses require for their health and well-being to be horses with other horses.
Climate extremes have
Busy seasons when they collapse and die in our streets.
Summer heat, hotter on asphalt, humidity hard on horses, then the cold of the punishing winter holiday season.
Concussive leg and hoof injuries, pounding pavement with respiratory harm coming from exhaust can end their working lives and lead to slaughter.
Inadequate housing, even upstairs in stalls too small for draft horses.
At the end, brutal slaughter.
The history wants hitching posts in Central Park, but this invites disaster.
Horses can spook tied to hitching horses, posts, sorry, breaking their necks, rearing, collapsing, backward runways, dragging the posts, injuries and death.
Hitching posts do not make it safe for drivers to leave their horses.
By law and good horse sense, horses must be attended at all times at the horse's head, including at a hitching post where the public can stress the horse.
Negligence caused the death of Romange and many horses.
It's human to think, I'll only be a moment.
What could happen?
But in that moment, horses spooked.
The unthinkable occurred.
More driver training a few years ago did nothing.
It's no surprise to me that everyone who is against this law had a profit motive.
Thank you very much.
Next.
Nellie, right?
Okay, thank you.
Go ahead.
Yes, thank you.
Just state your name.
For the record, sorry.