Faith Rashid testifies remotely on hippotherapy as retirement option
Faith Rashid, a lifelong New Yorker with background in occupational therapy, testifies remotely about hippotherapy as a potential retirement path for carriage horses and urges passage of the ban.
Good evening.
I'm Faith Rashid, concerns private citizen, lifelong New Yorker.
It's time to pass Raw Matches Law, Intro 943.
I care deeply about this issue because I feel horses should not be used purely for entertainment and profit.
Horse carriage rides are a threat to the health and safety of humans and horses.
Too many horses have suffered and died in this industry, and unfortunately now 18-year-old Ramat Mahajang, who had his whole life ahead of him, was tragically killed on June 16, 2026.
My deepest condolence go to his family.
My background in education and occupational therapy has shown me that the benefits of hippotherapy and equine-assisted therapy.
Hippotherapy is a medical treatment strategy utilizing horses'natural rhythmic movement to engage and improve a patient's sensory, neuromotor, and cognitive systems.
It is widely used as a modality treatment for physically and developmentally disabled children and teens.
This therapy is also used by veterans who are healing from psychological and emotional trauma.
Carriage horses can successfully...
transition to hippotherapy or equine assisted programs.
Hippotherapy requires a calm, docile horse with a low flight response.
Retired horses, of course, are evaluated to see if they do have the right temperament.
They will have the opportunity to be well taken care of and loved.
These centers are mostly located at equine centers and farm-like facilities often run by licensed therapists.
My daughter and myself have volunteered at two different centers here on Long Island, so I've seen the conditions at these facilities.
They truly are very wonderful programs.
The horse carriage industry is an archaic tradition that several major U.S.
Cities have already banned or are actively phasing out.
To protect animal welfare and public safety.
It's time for New York to pass Romach's law and transition and explore animal-free electric alternatives so carriage drivers can transition to new employment.
There was a time and place for the horse carriage rise, but that was in the past.
So please pass this legislation now.
Thank you for your time and giving me the opportunity to testify today.
We appreciate your testimony.
Thank you.
Endo Yuki.
You may begin.
Endo Yuki.
Emily Harding, H-A-R-T-I-N-G.
You may begin.