A ban announced last month to ban horse drawn carriages from operating in Melbourne’s CBD comes into effect this Monday, ending what has been a long running feature of the city.
Transport Minister Ben Carroll said the decision was driven by road safety, but the carriages have been marred by controversies and push-backs from animal rights activists in recent years.
Kristin Leigh is the leader of Melbourne Against Horse Drawn Carriages, who have been campaigning to ban the carriages since 2013.
“We’re just really glad that the authorities finally came together and did what we’ve been asking them to do for so long,” Leigh said.
While the decision has been celebrated by animal rights groups, operators of the carriage businesses remaining in the city say the decision will destroy their businesses.
Ray Whittaker, owner of Distinctive Carriages Melbourne has been operating in the CBD for 37 years.
He said his business will not survive outside the CBD.
“We don’t know what we’re going to do come the 13th of June. I think our days are numbered,” Whittaker said.
Animal rights groups have alleged animal cruelty in the industry and raised concerns over the welfare of the horses and the conditions they work under in the city.
Whittaker strongly denied allegations of animal cruelty in the industry and said his horses are well looked after and enjoy the work.
“You just have to look at our horses and you can see they’re not being neglected in any shape or form. They just don’t understand what we’re about. They think it’s just cruel, cruel, cruel no matter what you say,” Whittaker said.
RSPCA Victoria has praised the ban, saying it has attended 48 cruelty reports concerning horse drawn carriages over the past five years.
“We are so pleased to see horse-drawn vehicles banned in the busy CBD area of Melbourne, a welcome and significant step forward for the welfare of carriage horses,” said Mhairi Roberts, Policy and Advocacy Manager at RSPCA Victoria.
Whittaker, who is now facing the prospect of having to sell his horse and carriages, said he is disappointed and saddened by the governments decision to ban the carriages without proper consultation.
“We’re not going to be around for all the people that like us. If there’s one that doesn’t like us there’s 10 that do like us.”
