Council votes to impose new requirements for treatment of Central Park carriage horses

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NEW YORK — New York’s City Council has passed regulations requiring carriage horses to have larger stalls, five weeks off per year and blankets in cold and wet weather.

Animal welfare advocates have long campaigned to shut down the Central Park carriage horse industry, which has been featured in movies and shows such as HBO’s ‘Sex and the City.’

Advocates for the industry argue it’s important to tourism and say the horses are treated well.

The bill also has safety requirements. Carriages must have emergency brakes and reflective material. They also must be equipped with manure-catching devices.

Rides will be more expensive. They’re going up from $34 for the first half-hour to $50 for the first 20 minutes. Rates hadn’t changed for more than 20 years.

Mayor Michael Bloomberg supports the bill and is expected to sign it.

-- Associated Press

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