Old Sacramento Horse-drawn carriage rides around Old Sacramento and the Capitol are unnecessary and potentially dangerous for the horses.
Learn the issues about what the carriage horses face on a regular basis. Please do not take any horse-drawn carriage rides in Old Sacramento or in downtown Sacramento. The horses will thank you for it!Read our issues below, or you can go right to the frequently asked questions about carriage horse rides and carriage horses.
Please do not put any carriage horses at risk of injury. Just say no to this form of entertainment.
Old Sacramento carriage horse ride issues:
Carriage Horse Issues
| There is nothing nostalgic about riding on horse-drawn carriages while waiting in traffic, breathing exhaust and hearing conversations from within the vehicles or from pedestrians and radios. |
| In summer months, it is very, very hot. The temperatures reach in the upper 90s and the carriage horses still work pulling the weight of the carriage and passengers and often, with minimal shaded areas and questionable break periods. Here are the downtown weather charts of the high temperatures which the Old Sacramento carriage horses endure as provided by the National Weather Service. These charts show the temperatures in the mid to upper 90's in the summer months. |
| The carriage horses work and walk ( and sometimes trot ) on concrete and cobblestone which is unnatural for animals. |
| The horses are subjected to unnecessary noise pollution and exhaust pollution from cars, trucks, and motorcycles. |
| The horses are put at unnecessary risk of animal attack or motor vehicle collision and because the horses are harnessed they can not defend themselves. In fact, we have recorded carriage horse ride operators frequently running stop signs on their routes. |
Recent Old Sacramento Horse-Drawn Carriage Accidents
| Dec 21, 2010 |
Dog shot after attacking carriage horse in Old Sacramento
KCRA.com YouTube News video of incident |
| Dog killed, Horse injured ( Source: Examiner.com and KCRA ) | |
| Dec 28, 2009 |
Horse-Drawn Carriage in Hit and Run in Old Sacramento Hit-and-run totals horse carriage |
| 2 riders injured, Horse injured, Carriage totaled ( Source: News10.net and Sac Press ) |
Help prevent future carriage horse incidents. Please do not take carriage horse rides.