Nicolene von Fink (equestrian) testifies on traumatized horses

Good afternoon, my name is Nicolene von Fink, and I'm a resident of New York City.

I was born on a horse farm in Northern Virginia, and I've been riding since age four.

I strongly support Intro 943, Romance's Law to End Horse-Drawn Carriages in New York City.

I've seen happy, healthy carriage horses growing up in Northern Virginia, and the horses that I've seen in Central Park are not that.

Several years ago,

Years ago, I saw with my own eyes a carriage collapse onto a horse's hind legs.

The horse screamed like a child.

And several men chaotically tried to free him, one man pulling at the reins while another pushed him down.

They were unable to lift the carriage because he was harnessed to it and caught in it.

That this is what happens when you put a half-ton prey animal in city traffic with no way to escape.

Two years ago, I was walking into Central Park and one of the horses caught my attention.

I pet his neck, he didn't react at all.

His ears, a horse's primary way of engaging with the world, hung completely slack to either side.

In 28 years around healthy horses, I had never seen that before.

It is a trauma response, total dissociation from sustained physical and emotional distress.

Many people have testified today that they care deeply for their horses.

So why is Central Park so full of emaciated, exhausted, slack-eared horses with cracked, sore hooves?

New York is not being asked to do something untested.

This is one of the most modern cities in the world.

We should be leading, not trailing.

Again, I urge the Committee on Health to vote yes and move Intro 943 into a full council vote.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Next.

State your name and then give your testimony.

I am Deborah.