Kristen Johnson Helps PETA Expose NYC’s Brutal Horse Drawn-Carriage Industry

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by Michael Parrish DuDell November 19, 2008
Categories: Animals
Tags: .

Former 3rd Rock star Kristen Johnson is joining stars like Alec Baldwin, Pink and Chrissie Hynde by getting involved in PETA’s campaign to help put an end to New York City’s horse-drawn carriage industry.

“I was blown away by how these horses live, or actually I should say, don’t live,“ said Johnston. “The horses go from this horrible job, where they’re pulling people through the streets of Manhattan all day, to this tiny jail cell in this building that’s like a cramped parking garage. I’d say to tourists considering coming to New York, there’s so much amazing stuff to do here. But please do something else. Go ice-skating, see a show, go shopping. I hope within the next year that there are no more horse-drawn carriages.”

The advertising campaign will debut in Central Park on Thursday, November 20, so make sure you stop on by and check it out! If you plan on visiting New York this holiday season, please consider opting for the more humane pedicab ride and help Kristin and thousands of other New Yorker’s put a stop to nasty industry!


Categories: Animals
Tags: .
  • shannon

    until i started hearing about this campaign, i had no idea they were so ill-treated. i’m ashamed to say i took a ride on my first trip to NYC. now i’m wiser to it, so never again.

    plus, i had such a blast in the pedicab last time…but so much fun, esp riding through times square.

  • VeggieTart

    I appreciate her efforts, but why must she be naked to protest the cruelty of horse-drawn carriages?

    • DiAnne

      She got your attention didn’t she. It is important to get the word out about how these slave horses exist in the cities. Never seeing a pasture , never able to have a roll on the ground. Sore legs from the pavement , and horrific heat and humidity in the summer and then winter. New york City is not the only city where horses are keep in cramped dark stables and work 6 days a week.

  • The Science Commenter

    Veggie Tart,

    Everyone who works with PETA must be naked. Otherwise, you wouldn’t understand the message.

    It’s a natural law. Just like water freezing at 0 degrees.

    Only naked ladies are comprehensible.:)

  • steph

    It’s a play on Lady Godiva methinks

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Godiva

  • The Science Commenter

    Ha! You’re probably right, Steph.

    And Ingrid Newkirk (Head PETA Queen) is British, although she grew up in India.

  • fbr

    Funniest thing I’ve seen this week. Nice to see PETA is at least capable of some self-irony.

  • J

    Actually, it’s already begun (the campaign), I saw this ad atop a taxi earlier today.

  • Sandy

    To bad its just another typical peta lie. These horses all have box stalls, take vacations on farms, have weather and time restrictions and are truely loved by thier owners. Being a horse driver isnt very lucrative…why would you do the job unless you loved your horses? Peta fascists.

    • DiAnne

      yes laws have changed anbd things are better. In Savanna I saw retired standardbreds that were so thin you could hang a hat on their ilias and knees so abused from the stress of racing that were over at the knees.

      There are drivers that do love their horses and take care of them. I kepp horses and understand this. But I also understand when I see horses that should have been retired a long time ago.

  • parrish

    Sandy- Do you live in New York City? I GUARANTEE you those are not happy horses. I grew up around happy horses and I can promise you those are not happy horses!

  • steph

    I agree with Parrish!

    I live in NYC and those horses DO NOT look happy and the stables are NOT nice clean happy places either. I have seen some that are practically GARAGES.

    I don’t know anything about any “vacations” and the people that drive these carriages seem to really not give a CRAP about the horses. And i see them out in all kinds of weather all year round.

    Horses DO NOT BELONG on city streets. It’s cruel and unnecessary! That is the bottom line. Horses die and people are in danger when they get spooked and run off into traffic, which happens.

    You really think the horses are happy pulling carts all day along side tons of erratic cab drivers, cars, pollution and excessive noise?

    Yeah….sounds like a DREAM to me….

  • VeggieTart

    Science Commentator, I so forgot that. But it’s only young, skinny women who must be naked. The men can be clothed and any woman with a waist of more than 24 inches is hidden behind a placard.

    Steph, you’re probably right about the Lady Godiva thing.

  • Maiza

    For Parrish and Steph:

    Carriage horses on vacation:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmzfnuKSuYo

    Much more on our horses:

    http://www.youtube.com/user/peeba76

    The truth on one of their blogs:

    http://thewhiffletreenyc.blogspot.com/

    And for Parrish – I too, grew up around horses. I have worked with horses my entire life. NYC carriage horses have a great, content life. I am up at the park 3X a week, know many of the drivers, and have been to the stables.

    As far as Kristen Johnston goes…this says it perfectly:
    ”
    Another never-was celebutard heard from.
    NYC carriage horses have more amenity-filled lives than many, many children in this city. This freak should be deeply ashamed of herself for investing time and money and effort “helping” a handful of horses that have shelter, food, vet care, farrier care, grooming, affection, vacations, and retirement.
    I should know – I have been in the business for 27 years. I got into the business BECAUSE of my love for horses, and the limited options to working with them in NYC.
    We have a wonderful little iconic, family-friendly business that not only makes people happy, but gives a few horses a place in this world at a time when thousands of horses acorss the country are being abandoned and/or sent to slaughter. The combination of high hay/oats prices and a devastated economy has created a crisis of epic proportions – don’t take my word for it, Google it.
    Our horses are fit and content, doing what they were born and bred to do. Horses have worked in urban areas ever since there WERE urban areas, it works no hardship on them.
    People need to stop projecting their own feelings onto animals and hold off on the anthropomorphism if they are ever to see animals for who they are truly are.
    Not buying into hysterical propaganda helps, too.
    Johnston would do better working in a soup kitchen, or maybe taking a tour of Bed-Stuy in the summer to see little kids sleeping on fire escapes because their apartments are too hot to sleep in. Or maybe she should hoof it over to the CACC and help some of the thousands of dogs and cats that are euthanized there every year. Lots of real issues out there, Kristen. Our horses don’t need you.”

  • peeba76

    For the people who know nothing about our horses, how they live or how many regulations we have: We have NEVER been cited for cruelty in over 150 yrs. We have 5 stables, 2 of which are state of the art. All of our horses in nyc have box stalls. (which the mounted police horses dont even have)They get ferrier care, worming, and dental and vet care on a schedualed basis…which is all recorded for the city. We are overseen by 5 agencies (we have more regulations and oversight than at-risk children). We have temp restrictions, and hr work restrctions which are overseen by the aspca. We send our horses to vacations on farms 3-4 months out of each yr. When our horses are retired they are adopted out through one of 3 adoption programs we use. We are licensed 4 times over (carriage, driver, horse,and stable) We are fully insured. Our horses were trained specifically for this job… PETA is really good at lying to people. their intentions are evil. They want to do away with all human to animal relationships. ALL of them including pets. Its disgusting. Whats even more disgusting is that people like Kristen Johnston (who dont know anything about horses in the first place) are halping them!
    If you want the TRUTH you can see my videos on youtube of my horses on my farm and in their stable in nyc and at work. This is the TRUTH. I can prove everything I say….they cant! Please take a look before you believe everything they say.

    http://www.youtube.com/user/peeba76

    Now, just TRY and tell me my horses dont live in a nice stable in the city, a nice farm when on vacation and are happy and healthy. Just TRY!

  • Kyle

    When I see people exploiting horses in the park I look at them in disgust. These are disgusting people who run these operations. Obviously, their only intention is to line their pockets with coins dredged up from the blood and sweat of the horses. Shame on you Maiza and Peeba.

  • steph

    Both sides can “prove” everyhting they say.

    I am not changing my stance that horses should not be on city streets, i don’t care what blogs or selective videos i am show. The opposition can show blogs and videos of the complete opposite as well.

    Horses do not belong on the streets. Horses DIE in accidents. That, to me, cannot be justified by tourism or greed.

    These carriage rides are unnecessary and i cannot wait till the day they are banned. As a animal rights activist and a vegan, i do NOT believe in exploitation of animals. This practice puts animals in danger for the purpose of making money.

  • peeba76

    to Kyle and Steph..
    If you knew ONE thing about horses you wouldnt be sticking your feet in your mouth like this. Its pathetic. And to villify every person who works with and alongside animal partners is disgusting. Peta has done a great job brainwashing the simple minded and easily led. Doesnt matter…in the end people like you are of no consequence to me. I know the truth, the city council and mayor know the truth, and the HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of tourists who take rides with us every year know the truth. How about doing a little research into what your talking about before opening your ignorant mouths? Ever been to a farm? Ugh.

  • Fatboy

    peeba 76 is abigail from Clinton stables who abuses her horses and harasses people who expose the truth of the cruelty of NYC horse carriage industry
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62aOP5eLigg

  • peeba76

    You are a fucking ASSHOLE. Never have I ever abused an animal in my life. Felix, youre a heroin addict. Tell them all about it……..

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