New York horse-drawn carriages in the sights of elected officials and animal defenders

An emblem of New York soon to be threatened?

Like yellow taxis, the Statue of Liberty or Broadway, horse-drawn carriages are an integral part of the clichés that surround the Big Apple.

But these tourist walks around Central Park are now in the sights of elected officials and animal defenders who would prefer electric carts.

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"Manhattan is probably the worst place on the planet to work a horse, in traffic, noise, pollution and heat

," protests Robert Holden.

This New York city councilman is the author of a text that would require the replacement of horse-drawn carriages with electric vehicles by June 2024.

For years, animal rights activists - more and more in the United States - have wanted to put an end to this tourist attraction, which has existed since the 19th century around the green lung of Manhattan.

New York today has 130 coachmen who share 68 licenses and some 200 horses sheltered in municipal stables.

Read the fileNew York: the

“Barbaric” walks for animal defenders

Already in early August, opponents of horse-drawn carriages mobilized, including activists from the PETA association, after a horse suddenly collapsed one hot afternoon on the pavement of the immense 9th avenue in Manhattan, lined with skyscrapers.

A video on social media shows the animal on the ground while angry motorists told him to get up.

A micro-demonstration against the

of horse-drawn carriages then brought together 15 people.

The top Bella Hadid judged on Instagram that these walks were

and urged the New York City Council to vote on Robert Holden's bill.

For animal advocates, New York horses live in poor conditions.

They suffer in particular from malnutrition and dehydration and are terrified by car traffic.

,” thunders Edita Birnkrant, director of an animalist group, NYCLASS, who thinks that horse-drawn carriages have nothing to do in

.

Read alsoAntispecists fighting against a horse-drawn carriage

Strict rules governing the profession

On the contrary, the operators ensure that these horses are well treated and that their sector is closely monitored by the city's health authorities.

In fact, they are prohibited from working more than nine hours a day, at more than 32 degrees in summer and less than 7 degrees in winter.

The horses

," insists Christina Hansen, a coachwoman in New York for ten years and whose horse Oreo is entitled to its five weeks of annual "holidays" on the farm.

And then what would New York be without its horse-drawn carriages, questions this 42-year-old woman:

.

You see us in movies and on TV.

We're as photogenic as the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty

In Central Park, where a 45-minute walk still costs $160, tourists are divided.

, exclaims Cailey, a Briton, in favor of a ban, just like Maria, a Polish woman for whom seeing horses

gives New York

.

Others are more nuanced, like Maria, originally from Argentina, who sees in it

.

For many, the financial windfall can be significant.

A horse-drawn carriage driver can indeed earn $100,000 a year, according to Christina Hansen.

Opposite, supporters of Robert Holden's bill are hoping for a vote in October.

But nothing is less certain, because the coachmen are supported by the powerful municipal transport union.

A fight far from being won in advance.