Carriage horses seems to have the worst job, that the horse can do. There are probably much worse jobs, we just don’t see it. This one is right there in the most touristy areas in big and small cities. They are there day after day after day. Looking sad.
Looks well kept not sue about their job
I always wonder about carriage horses — how they’re kept, what they think about the routine of the job. Thanks for the interesting picture.
Horses’ eyes are so liquid somehow – perhaps we see reflected a little of ourselves. Thanks south for looking in on The Phraser in Italy. I like trying to show in words some of what you catch with your camera. Ciao Georgie
Your photographs are gorgeous, and so is this one. I do want to point out a couple of things if that’s ok. First of all, in New Orleans, most of the carriage “horses” are actually mules – which is half horse and half donkey. Not that it really matters, I just thought you might want to know. Also, I wanted to mention something you may or may not be aware of, which is that in NYC right now the carriage horse industry is under attack. Some of these drivers have been doing this all their lives, and their parents before them. Also, the horses that they are driving are, in a lot of cases, purchased from auctions where the carriage horse drivers are going up against what is termed the “killer buyers” which are people that sell horses to slaughter outside the US. If not for this industry – if not for this work – a lot of these horses wouldn’t even be alive, and despite what some animal rights organizations might have you believe, this industry is very carefully and closely regulated, and the horses are very well cared for. You might consider watching this video – narrated by Liam Neeson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xnNgAKQEN7U
Please know that I don’t want to start an argument here – I have been following your blog because I love your photography and although everyone is entitled to believe what they want to believe about the carriage horse industry, I do think it’s important to at least be informed. I hope you take my comments in the spirit in which they were offered. I love your blog.
Hi, thanks for sharing more insight into the industry. As an outsider I see horses grazing at different farms – seems like a nice place to live, and working the streets in touristy places – seems like not as a nice place as a farm. So that is where my comments came from. I’m not exposed to, and not really following the true realities of the horse trading industry. Good to know!
It looks a bit sad. Great pic BTW. Have a nice day!
great capture of a moment !
Hi, Dmitrii. I understand what you’re saying, and I appreciate you taking my comments in the spirit in which they’re offered. I am not sure about in New Orleans or other places where carriage horses live and work, but in NYC, where they are currently under such attack, the carriage horses and the entire industry is very closely monitored by a number of different agencies whose job it is to ensure that the horses are properly cared for and safe. They are mandated to have living quarters (stalls) of a certain size, they can’t work if it is too hot or cold, they get regular health care from veterinarians and blacksmiths/farriers (who take care of their feet and shoes), and they even get five weeks vacation each year outside of the city! I don’t know about you, but I don’t even get that! The truth is – while it may not be what we think of as “idyllic” the horses who have jobs are the lucky ones. They are necessary – and because of that they are safe and protected. Most people don’t know this, though, or even think of it – they just think that horses should be grazing in fields not pulling carriages, but the truth is- horses and people have worked together for centuries, each helping the other – and these people truly love these horses, who in many cases they have saved from slaughter, and they are doing the work they’ve done for centuries in a park that was designed with them in mind. Again – I am not trying to bring any controversy here – you just made me realize that something that I may be very well aware of because it’s an issue I really care about doesn’t mean that other people have any idea about it, and if I can perhaps bring some awareness in a non-controversial way, then maybe it will make a difference somehow. Best wishes to you.
I totally agree with you. Whenever I see them in a congested city, I always wonder? Do they dream of greener pastures? I want to let them all free from their carriages and let them run free. Great post, sad too.