Marte refutes industry safety reform arguments
Marte systematically refutes industry arguments about training, hitching posts, and government oversight, noting the industry refused independent vet inspections and that drivers were documented leaving horses unattended even after Romanch's death.
During this hearing, we're going to hear a lot of more excuses.
We'll be told that the industry is safe, yet somehow also needs safety reforms.
If the drivers are just trained better, this will never happen again.
That if we just add additional infrastructure to Central Park, such as hitching posts, that will solve the problem.
We'll be told that the issue is just the lack of government oversight.
And we'll be threatened that if we pass this bill, all the horses will be sent to the slaughterhouse.
However, these excuses don't hold up.
The Department of Health had tried to provide oversight over the carriage industry, but when the agency ordered independent veterinarians to inspect the stables and the horses, the workers refused to allow them to test their horses.
That veterinarian found horses stuck in stables too small, covered in scarring, and exhibiting signs of many medical issues that could disqualify them from working.
It was not the city who did not enforce.
It was the industry that refused to comply.
After 128 horse carriage accidents, it was only when someone was killed that additional training was provided to the drivers.
Legislation has never been required.
to make better training.
Either the owners have ignored training their drivers or the training has not been working.
For days after Romash's death, we were promised that drivers were going to be trained to never leave their horses unattended.
Drivers were documented doing exactly that.
No amount of driver training will change the nature of horses.
They can and will get scared and run off.
Even hitching posts, which we are told are the magic bullets to stop horse accidents, are not a real solution.
A 1,500 pound horse will still get scared while tied to a hitching post.
Their halters can snap under extreme pressures and the horses can run off.
They can even pull the post onto the ground.
If the horse pulls back violently, he may fall with the carriage and capsize.
And even if the harness does not snap, the extreme pressures on the top of the head can result in serious and lasting injuries.
It can even break their neck.