The owners said the horses are given breaks if they seem tired, are only taken out to give rides a few times a week for a limited amount of hours, are well-fed, and see the vet regularly. If the weather conditions are bad, the horses won't be taken out, Hemingway Carriage officials said.
Responding to concerns raised that horse-drawn carriages were hurting small businesses, the owners said a big part of their operation Downtown is transporting people from restaurants to hotels, which is good for local businesses.
Hemingway Carriage's owners said they're open to speaking with the council and finding a middle ground that makes everyone happy instead of banning the practice altogether. They said they are worried if the ordinance is passed, it could bankrupt their small businesses.
Downtown businesses unhappy with horse manure on streets
Adam Gelter, 3CDC Executive Vice President, said they've heard from many Downtown businesses about the issues caused by horse-drawn carriage rides.
"This is a real issue for the businesses Downtown. Anyone who has been around these horse carriages knows they smell very bad, and it's left all over the streets, and there are no provisions for cleaning," Gelter said. "It's really detrimental for the businesses that happen to be on the routes the horses take."
Gelter also said the horses take a toll on the city's infrastructure, causing damage to the streets and sidewalks.
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"We spend a lot of effort cleaning up after both the refuse and physical damage that the horses themselves do," Gelter said.
Jim Tomaszewski, the former chair of the city's animal task force, said banning carriage rides would mean safer streets, saving horses from inhumane treatment, and benefit small businesses.
"Sometimes, these issues take some time for the right stars to align, and I think we're at that time where the issue is coming together not only in Cincinnati and across the country," Tomaszewski said.
He believes by passing this ordinance, Cincinnati would solidify itself as a leader in animal rights legislation.
Seelbach said there are currently six horse-drawn carriage licenses in Cincinnati. He said businesses that operate these carriage rides must have a license from the city that renews every January. If the ordinance passes, those licenses will no longer be given out in Cincinnati.
The use of horse-drawn carriages at events like parades or weddings will still be allowed, Seelbach said.
Under the measure, carriage rides operated out of Northern Kentucky will no longer be allowed to give rides in Cincinnati.
National organizations, including the Humane Society and Animal Wellness Action have expressed their support of the ordinance to City Council.
The ordinance now goes to Cincinnati City Council for a vote on Wednesday.
