12-Year-Old Charleston Horse Injured in Fall While Pulling Carriage
A horse forced to work in the carriage industry in Charleston has fallen and appears to have injured a leg.
The horse languished on the ground for more than an hour, as multiple attempts to help him up were unsuccessful. Finally, a crane had to be brought in to lift him to his feet.
People are helping to roll the horse over, but the horse still cannot stand up. Via @Greg_woods #BanHorseCarriages pic.twitter.com/cNIawbXrPn — PETA (@peta) July 17, 2015
She looks so scared. All attempts to get her off of the ground have been unsuccessful. Via @Greg_Woods pic.twitter.com/vY6ngmxz65
— PETA (@peta) July 17, 2015
After being lifted by the crane, the horse was unable to stand on his own; it appeared that he could not put weight on his back legs.
He doesn’t appear to be putting any weight on his back legs after being helped off of the ground. Via @Greg_woods pic.twitter.com/oqO9RApB5r — PETA (@peta) July 17, 2015
The heat index in Charleston today reached 99 degrees fahrenheit. By law, horses in Charleston can be forced to work when the heat index is as high as 125 degrees fahrenheit.
“As temperatures in Charleston soared into the high 80s, temperatures where hoof meets pavement likely rose above 100 degrees,” said PETA Senior Vice President Dan Mathews. “Blondie languished on that pavement for more than an hour before a crane was called in to lift him to his feet. This incident is yet another testament to the cruelty inherent in the horse-drawn carriage industry, which has been banned in cities from Salt Lake City to Biloxi, Mississippi, and from city centers in London, Mumbai, Paris, Toronto, and dozens of other cities around the globe. Charleston should act now and relieve Blondie and dozens of other suffering horses so that they can recover at a reputable sanctuary.”
Horses in the carriage industry worldwide are literally worked to death every year, and are offered no federal protection under the Animal Welfare Act.
Although we don’t know what may happen to this horse, we do know that when horses grow too old or ill to continue pulling heavy loads, they aren’t retired to green pastures and loving homes, as people may be led to believe. Instead, many worn-out horses are slaughtered and turned into food for dogs or for carnivores in zoos, and some are shipped overseas for human consumption.
What You Can Do
If you live in a city where horse-drawn carriages are still allowed, contact your local legislators to ask if they will sponsor a ban on this cruel industry.
