By Allie Feldman / NEW YORK DAILY NEWS
The actor’s defense of the horse-carriage industry is misleading and misinformed
This isn’t a Movie!
Liam Neeson is an actor, and a good one. Recently, he’s been playing a new role: defender of New York’s anachronistic carriage-horse industry. He’s attacked the part with all the gusto of recent star turns in movies like Non-Stop and Taken. But just like those roles, it’s a fictional portrayal that’s short on facts and heavy on action-hero posturing and show biz theatrics.
Neeson likes to talk about the stables, for example, but what he doesn’t talk about is the dangerous journey these carriage horses make twice a day through some of the most congested streets in America. They travel nearly two miles each way, fighting rush-hour traffic, potholes and uneven pavement on roads that are dangerous enough for taxis and pedestrians, never mind for an easily-spooked flight animal with a carriage full of tourists strapped to his back.
Neeson also doesn’t talk about the fact that no driver will lose his job in the transition from carriage horses to hand-crafted reproductions of the cars that traversed the park at the turn of the 20th century. A three-year transition to these vintage electric vehicles has always been the plan, to ensure minimal disruption for drivers and other employees.
And unlike the carriage-horse trade, the new one will be a tourist transportation industry with an exciting future: A study by the respected firm HR&A Advisors showed definitively that these antique electric vehicles would generate twice the annual economic activity of the horse carriages, providing a more stable, secure livelihood for each and every driver willing to make the transition.
These nostalgic touring cars, manufactured right here in New York, will create jobs, opportunity and excitement — not just among the residents and tourists who frequent the park now, but also among history and automobile buffs eager for a glimpse of a bygone era.
Liam Neeson left all these facts on the cutting-room floor. He enjoys a good story, though, so like others in the carriage-horse industry, he weaves bizarre conspiracy theories about our organization and its motives, tales of real estate grabs and horses going to slaughter. Again, fiction.
As we’ve said many times, no one connected with NYCLASS has any interest in real estate currently housing the horse stables. None. As we have said — as was reported in Bloomberg News last month — “If the real estate were offered for free, we wouldn’t take it. Our sole interest is in the health and safety of the horses.”
And what will become of the horses? Sorry, Mr. Neeson, but there’s a happy ending there as well. We already have a waiting list of adoption offers from private farms and sanctuaries.
As with all actors, Liam Neeson is only as good as his script. And in this case, it’s a weak one. And that’s the problem with this debate: With no real argument for the perpetuation of this inhumane and dangerous practice, supporters of carriage horses have to fall back on lies and personal attacks…(CONTINUED)
Click (HERE) to read the rest of the story and to comment at the New York Daily News
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Categories: Equine Rescue, Horse Health, Horse News, Horse Slaughter
Straight from the Horse's Heart 
I read through the comments and couldn’t help but respond to one dolt who sharply defended the ‘trade’…
“so when did the horses “needs” become more important than people?” The horses have no choice…the people do. You don’t have to go to the park and experience the violence, or have to walk behind a city bus or taxi spewing toxic fumes if you do you do it by choice. You chose to live in that anthill…why is beyond me. I fail to see beauty in mega-skylines of concrete and glass and streets full of folks rushing hither and yon not smiling or even looking at each other. Maybe that’s why you’re so endeared to the horses. They let you pet them and don’t threaten you like people do. It’s obvious you’ve never spent much time with horses or you would never say something so foolish as “you think animals have HUMAN needs and feelings”. If you’d been around them much you’d know it’s a fact they do have needs and feelings just like humans. They have lungs that require a lot of air…fresh air not poisonous. Yes they were trained in the city but that hasn’t changed their anatomical makeup. Their hoof was not meant to walk or stand on concrete all day long. Concrete that gets very hot in the summer and cold in the winter. Concrete does not have the attributes of natural turf which is what their hoof was designed for by nature.
Someone said the horses are happy. How do you know that? None of you have ever existed with horses in your lives, as part of your lives. You wouldn’t know a happy horse from a bored horse if it kicked you in the butt. People have profited from performing animals too long. And that’s what most of you see when you see a carriage horse. That animal is performing for your pleasure of just looking at them. One of, if not, the most perfect animal ever created is a beautiful thing to experience but not at the expense of it’s health and wellbeing. It’s a selfish desire you have to see them perform. Being a human means you should be humane. Since the majority of you ‘pro’ carriage trade folks don’t know a thing about equines I suggest you consider just why it is you’re so infatuated with them. Is it the ‘romance’ or the ‘tradition’? Is it a self-serving desire you have to watch them like animals in a zoo? It is not a necessity that they be there so why should they be? SELFISH HUMANS!
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Steve, Your comments said t all. I have written on several sites trying to get people to see how incongruous the carriage rides are with urban life. How the industry defends he conditions and how its supporters try to reason hat the horses have different standards. Nothing I wrote was as direct and succinct as you post. Bravo. I hope you can share this on whatever social media you use.
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I once heard or read that at one time Liam Neeson wanted to bd a butcher.Enough said about his feelings for animals.Is he an American citizen?Why does his opinion matter just because he is an actor?
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Horse’s have a purpose, they like to have something to do. There need’s to be a middle ground here. Yes Slaughter is still in existence, they ship straight to Canada if this ban goes through. Don’t assume they will sit in some one pasture lingering until they die. In fact many have been put out to pasture and saying its retirement. They end up on a truck instead. Driver’s need to be held accountable for accident’s and daily monitoring of their equine’s. Facility’s can be spit and polish but that’s just for show. Restrict horses to park only. The remark about two mile’s a day, that nothing compared to what they were doing previous to their current position. As long as you have a great driver/caretaker and follow the rules set fourth their shouldn’t be a problem. The car driver’s also need to be held accountable for their misdeed’s as well. You hit a horse your liable for what you caused. This industry need’s further improvement’s on the part of the horses and their work schedule driver’s drug testing and more frequent veterinary check’s, and wagon/carriage safety check’s. If a horse colic’s their is usually sign’s before hand. Police need to know how to dismantle a carriage trace from the horse and more horse handling practice need’s to be taught. I will teach them if they want to learn. Horsemanship 101.
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Excellent post Elizabeth !!! i respect Neeson as a Actor but I think he in an area he doesnt fully understand !!!
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I agree on the middle ground and the park is where they should be and only in certain conditions. The fact that the mayor did not even bother to visit the stables bothered me a lot. It is at least one component of the issue. He should’ve gone with someone from ASPCA to check them out himself. If not the same day as Neeson, another day with no warning. A surprise visit would give a better idea of conditions. Instead, he didn’t bother.
There are laws to protect the horses but they need to be clarified and enforced and someone has to be taught what to look for and how to enforce them. It’s very sad that these horses would have to lose their job entirely, because the flip side is, some kids in the city may never otherwise have seen a horse.
Also it needs to be a certain kind of well trained horse to be suitable for city life.
And this is not just a New York issue. What starts as country finds suburbia creeping into it and suddenly your barn is surrounded by neighbors who know nothing of horses and think nothing of scaring them. The answer can’t always be banning them from the roads. Because your trail may find itself suddenly buried under construction, or a new road, and there you are. (This literally happened to me one day. Rode out on the trail and came back and I was blocked by surveyors tape!) We need to be aware that if we don’t find ways for horses to coexist parks and suburbia, we may (in the long run) find we’ve run out of anywhere to fall back with our equestrian pursuits to.
There are laws to protect the horses but they need to be clarified and enforced and someone has to be taught what to look for and how to enforce them. It’s very sad that these horses would have to lose their job entirely, because the flip side is, some kids in the city may never otherwise have seen a horse.
Also it needs to be a certain kind of well trained horse to be suitable for city life.
And this is not just a New York issue. What starts as country finds suburbia creeping into it and suddenly your barn is surrounded by neighbors who know nothing of horses and think nothing of scaring them. The answer can’t always be banning them from the roads. Because your trail may find itself suddenly buried under construction, or a new road, and there you are. (This literally happened to me one day. Rode out on the trail and came back and I was blocked by surveyors tape!) We need to be aware that if we don’t find ways for horses to coexist parks and suburbia, we may (in the long run) find we’ve run out of anywhere to fall back with our equestrian pursuits to.
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Why would the Mayor go to the stables? To be shouted-down by the carriage horse mafioso? If he wants to speak with them he should do so in an atmosphere conducive to discussion. This is not suburbia. The ASPCA has abandoned enforcement of the carriage horses and left it to the police, who IMO, probably don’t have time for this. How are the horses going to get to the park from the 4 stables that are owned by the medallion owners/drivers?
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Terri, this is maybe a bit off topic but if folks think horses have no place working at all for people, where do you draw the line? Soon enough anyone riding them or using a buggy even for recreation or as a way to save fuel will not be allowed to share a life with horses. Taken to an extreme, we will have horses in zoos, stuffed ones in museums, and the extralegal horse Guantanamo situation as we have with our wild ones. I personally would like to see more horses in everyday life for more people, not the opposite. If there are bad managers, great, go after them. But some of the posts on here seem to blame the horse for bad automobile drivers, which makes no sense to me. Maybe banning cars for some areas would be a better solution, and probably would be a faster way to get around in some parts of the big city. Might cut out some road rage, too!
But I have not and never will visit NYC, not interested. I admit to having no first hand knowledge of the situation there but do think eliminating horses from ever-more parts of everyday life is a mistake. This also makes them seem they can only be expensive pets, which makes those with no experience around them prone to even more mischaracterization of horses and horse people.
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for people who defend the carriages. Lets pretend, or just do it, you are walking your kid in a stroller on the streets, going no where in particular, See what happens when a car flies past honking its horn, cutting you off, people yelling and screaming, I dont care how old your kid is, this is something they never get used to and scares the crap out of them, makes them cranky. Put your kid on your back and walk for miles, never taking him/her off your back still walking the streets, when you stop keep them on your back. At the end of the day, how would you feel? physically and emotionally? If you did this regularly, eventually your child wouldnt want to go out. Not walking for miles to let your kid play in the park, there is no reward, no destination, just walking. Then defend carriage horses
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What? We expect concern for animals from this guy? http://www.theguardian.com/film/2012/feb/06/liam-neeson-wolf-stew-grey
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Thanks Allie, great article!
Evolve Liam along with the rest of NYC
Your time would be better spent fighting for the passage of the SAFE Act
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Exactly Saigh, HE killed the Wolves, and ATE THEM in a Stew!!!! Liam is arrogant, ignorant man, he tells the Mayor to “Man up”, why?, cause he’s the”Man”, he should be in control????? OMG, abusive killer is all he is, and his acting is very mediocre, he can only play roles that are being a “Man” in control..go figure.. I see him as he is, ugly!
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I believe we al will one day depend on horses for our survival. Oil is finite and dwindling. To me it seems our horses are like partners, working together, after all we all work. BUT, our horses must also be horses and get time off, fresh food, vacations, medical attention. People are the keepers even in the wild I wish it were the other way around. Give the horses Central Park and a riding trail for light work. Trips to the country. Happy, who knows are any of us? All we can do is make the best of it.
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They get a mandated 5 weeks vacation per year, but most work one month on, one month off. They get regular veterinary and dental care. They are among the most regulated horses on the planet. What this op-ed doesn’t state is that the proposed legislation wants to seize these privately-owned animals. Since that is blatantly unconstitutional, it’s probably the reason deBlasio hasn’t introduced it yet. Veterinarians from all over the country will visit the stables tomorrow and can examine the horses. I think the professional opinions might change your mind.
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The Bill does not seize the horses at all. It does stipulate what will happen to them if the owners try to dispose of them, which is certainly authoritarian. But it certainly does not seize property – I’ve read it.
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These horses will NOT ship straight to Canada if carriages are banned; who said that????
There are many rescues and/or individuals, if given a chance, will step up to take these horses. These horses are well trained, well behaved, gentled and will make excellent pets.
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Since they’ve all had regular veterinary care, for some this will include prohibited drugs. They are all probably ineligible for slaughter anyway.
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You are sadly mistaken… If you have ever actually personally been to a horse sale and seen the many horses that run through the ring and are purchased by the “kill buyer” and then are shipped off to Canada for slaughter you might re think your position. This will not be a Disney ending situation for these carriage horses if the Mayor gets his way. So many horse rescues are overwhelmed and only able to accommodate a fixed number of horses. They are not able to offer the safe haven needed for older or “non working” horses (especially in the lump numbers that the Mayor’s actions would cause) and most rescues are focused on riding horses that are more easily placed with new owners instead of Carriage horses which are more difficult to re home.. plus the fact that they are usually drafts or part drafts and weigh more makes them even more attractive to auction house kill buyers.
What’s next…Ban the Mounted Police? Their horses are on their feet all day under the same conditions as the NYC Carriage horses.. what about other animals that have “Jobs” with/for humans…
Regulation and monitoring is the answer with the Carriage horses in NYC… Not Extinction… I say this as a current horse owner and former resident of NYC.
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The owners have said they would never ship them to slaughter. So if that’s not true, it all comes back down to the owners. Are they truthful or are they not?
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Sue, right now there are many well trained, well behaved, gentled horses that have been excellent pets being trucked to Canada for slaughter. The rescues have their hands full with the horses they already are caring for – sending more into the pipeline is a scary prospect. I don’t know the right answer to this mess, but seems as if the carriages could be used in Central Park rather than on the main drag it would be safer. As someone else said – what about the mounted police? They certainly go thru the same streets as the carriage horses. Both carriage horses & the police horses have their jobs. There’s nothing wrong with that – as long as they are safe & cared for.
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Thank you Maggie I agree !!!!
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There lies the dilemma. Horses and urban traffic will never mix, so while they may be cared-for, they can never truly be safe, and neither will the passengers.
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Heather, I don’t think anyone (even in a car) can ever be “truly safe” in an urban environment. Horses mix with traffic in many other parts of the world and obviously have in NYC for a long time. Sure there are accidents but they aren’t exclusive to horse-drawn carriages by any stretch of the imagination. At least a horse is going to TRY to avoid a problem if possible, I can’t say that about people. I lost a family member to a rural driver who had three chances to miss him but still hit him head on.
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Horses cannot “avoid” problems when pulling a carriage – they are blinkered and have no peripheral vision. You can hardly compare the unprotected carriage with driving in a vehicle. Even at low speed a carriage, passengers, and horse will have significant damage. Few accidents between automobiles in the city will be fatal. And the “tradition” argument is an invalid one, sorry.
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A few points to say first.
Leam Neeson is not paid for his involvement. His actions reflect the fact that he has long time personal friends within the NYC carriage folks. And yes, over quite some time as the fact be, he has ventured into the stables to visit and chat with those he knows. And because of this, he also knows / understands quite well the issues and how they are effecting these folks.
Years ago, I myself became interested in this issue. Because I am a horse person and one from the country. I have no ties to, nor vested interested in the carriages. But with my intent to learn, eventually I ended up traveling into the city. And that one trip, turned into frequent travels. With every visit, I asked, I viewed, I toured.
I went to the public open house invites ( the Clip Clop NYC functions ). I also went on personal outings with friends. And later, I went with truck & trailer at times to help with transportation of retiring horses, or horses that went to adoptive homes, or to Blue Star Equiculture.
Yes, I volunteer as I can with Blue Star Equiculture, but do not be misled. I am only a volunteer, I hold no official administrative function, but I do support them, and have known them in same time frame as I have come to know the NYC carriage horses and their teamsters.
With all due respect, I ask this of you…
Have you been there in person?
Never mind relying on a single – sole source.
Years ago I had this question, and I resolved it. Because I went to NYC and the stables. And not just once, but continuously. And I have walked Central park, and also the side walks to & from the stables. Have rode in many of the carriages with various teamsters.
And, from what I have personally learned, I started writing my “Notes”.
And I have many Notes publicly available on my FaceBook page. For I have always spoken my mind in what I believe. And yes, I even have Notes about America’s mustangs…
I ask you, and your readership to read. And do go to all the links within, for pertinent factual areas. Note the Veterinarians who have been… and of course more.
And after doing such, then reply to what I have given you to peruse.
“Thoughts and Facts about the NYC Carriage Horses…”
https://www.facebook.com/notes/alan-rochette/thoughts-and-facts-about-the-nyc-carriage-horses/10152128139908151
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http://nypost.com/2014/02/20/eight-lies-advocates-told-about-carriage-horses/
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http://www.irishcentral.com/news/irishvoice/Liam-Neeson-to-the-rescue-in-de-Blasio-debacle.html#ixzz2w4o7Z5ic
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http://spectator.org/blog/57345/de-blasios-horse-drawn-carriage-ban
http://www.drafthorsejournal.com/index.php/read/spring2014/bittertasteofanimalactivism
http://www.myfoxny.com/story/24979304/lews-view-central-park-horse-drawn-carriages#.UyO698CaN_U.twitter
Here’s some excellent material in order to get facts about the NYC carriage horses. NYCLASS is a front for a developer. By the way, they and other anti-carriage horse groups censor their pages. They do not allow their lies to be corrected — instead, they delete the comment and ban the poster. No matter how you feel about carriage horses, I hope you do not support censorship. If you have questions you want to ask directly of the NYC carriage horse owners and drivers, please visit Carriage Horse Facts on FB.
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The carriage groups will also censor their pages. So what? It’s their page. Anyone has the right to censor their page and the urban carriage groups have dozens of pages of their own anyway.
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Not only do the carriage groups have their own FB pages, they have the propaganda machine cranking out articles 24/7, like the ones at Breitbart.com, where they claim the stables are “lavish.” I think the stables show that the operators make good use of small spaces, but implying that they are lavish is ridiculous. The Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace are lavish, none of the NYC stables approach “lavish” by any stretch of the imagination.
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Alan, et All: These are facts from a biased group, how hard is it to understand that these horses at the least are living very UN-natural lives in dark buildings having to climb narrow stairways on their off times. During their work days, they are in heavy N.Y. traffic, in sweltering heat hot pavement, or icy cold streets subjected to lack of water and overheating, not to mention being hit by cars and killed, WTH is wrong with you people to think this treatment is ok???? For some pretentious ride for people who want to reminisce in the “Olden Days” Golly Gee Wilikers… GROW UP, it’s not about you, and holding onto a cruel tradition for these horses!!
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Dominique:
If hyperbole would help make better lives and purpose for carriage equines, I’d say you are the paradigm of response.
Unfortunately, this, in REALITY is not an either or proposition; nor should it be unless you belong to PeTA..
You certainly are outraged at the number of canine and feline deaths in the US based on reckless, cruel and or ignorant ownership, right?
Carriages, per se are not inherently evil or cruel…competing with whacko car/cab drivers on an urban street certainly is.
The carriage side lies and denies the deaths of their charges whether, vehicle impact, neglect, slaughter, etc; the anti side wants NO carriages. It would be hard to find improvement for the equines in a venue like that.
De Blasio SHOULD visit and speak with every one involved to make an informed decision…same with Neeson.
I want the horses to live with a job, but live well.
I suspect ASPCA went “no carriages” because of lack of cooperation from the carriage side.
But on the road with vehicles is insane…still think a pedestrian only concept around the park with a nonpark side single lane is reasonable for trolleys, shuttles, etc.
Oh…Allie Freeland (sp?) article not unbiased or problem solving for the EQUINES…more a piece on carriage supporters that are movie stars…who cares.
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Its too bad, I really like his movies. If he enjoys the horses so much, he should push for their care and safety by restricting them to the park only. It would be safe for all concerned.
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