- Around the world, meaningful progress is being made to end the practice of operating horse-drawn carriages on busy city streets.
- In Cartagena, Colombia, where the city’s historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site, horse carriages are being replaced with electric ones amid growing concerns about horse welfare and safety.
- In New York, the city’s new mayor has announced support for removing horse carriages from Central Park and working with stakeholders to end the practice.
- Locally, the VHS’s campaign to remove horse carriages from high traffic streets in Vancouver has gathered more than 3,000 signatures and was recently featured in the Daily Hive. The campaign has been seen more than 330,000 times on social media.
TAKE ACTION: Sign the petition urging Vancouver City Council to prohibit horse carriages from busy city streets, and if you’ve already signed, please share it to help build momentum.
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Horse carriages & traffic don’t mix
Horses are sensitive prey animals, not suited for navigating the increasingly crowded, noisy, and unpredictable streets of a modern city. Yet, Vancouver bylaws still allow horse-drawn carriages to operate on busy roads in high-traffic commercial areas throughout the city.
These urban environments are filled with loud noises, fast-moving traffic, hard pavement, vehicle exhaust, and crowds that can easily startle horses, no matter how experienced or well-trained they are.
Previous horse carriage incidents
Below are a few previous incidents that show how quickly things can become dangerous for the horses and the public when horse carriages operate in busy urban spaces.
- Victoria, 2024: A horse is spooked after an equipment malfunction, resulting in the driver losing control of the horse, who proceeds to run and buck through an intersection. Passengers jumped out of the carriage before the horse collapsed on the concrete.
- Victoria, 2023: A spooked horse flees for three blocks before tripping and falling over a bike lane curb. The incident resulted in the driver being thrown from the carriage and both the driver and horse suffered minor cuts.
- Victoria, 2018: In downtown Victoria, a horse-drawn carriage rolled back and bumped into a bus that was following too closely. The impact caused both horses to fall, blocking traffic and requiring an emergency response. The horses remained on the ground for more than five minutes, during which members of the public attempted to assist. Those assisting were not directed to stay clear of the horses’ legs, putting themselves at risk of serious injury.
- Victoria, 2018: A second incident occurred only a few months later, when horses were spooked and veered off course and crashed into a parked vehicle. Witnesses reported that the horses smashed the vehicle’s windows and even climbed onto its roof with their front hooves.
- Vancouver, 2016: A loud car horn startled a team of horses pulling a carriage, causing them to bolt along Stanley Park’s seawall with passengers on board. The horses left the road, crossed a bike path, and smashed a park bench with the carriage before continuing for approximately 100 metres. The driver fell from the carriage, and several frightened passengers leapt off as it sped along. Multiple people were injured, and there were concerns that the horses could have plunged over the sea wall and into the water.
Holiday event observations in Vancouver
In recent years, the VHS has documented horse carriages at holiday events in busy commercial areas, such as Kerrisdale and Commercial Drive.
The footage shows recurring welfare concerns and safety risks, including:
- Horses working in close proximity to moving vehicles;
- Horse carriages turning across oncoming traffic at busy intersections;
- Horses exposed to loud, sudden, and unpredictable noises and movement, such as sirens, car alarms, music, dogs, and bicycles;
- Members of the public approaching and interacting with horses without supervision;
Horses showing possible signs of stress or agitation, including head shaking, bit chewing, and pawing.
Sign & share the petition
Join the VHS in urging Vancouver City Council to protect the well-being and safety of horses and the public by prohibiting horse-drawn carriages from busy city streets.