A Roll in the Grass for Former Carriage Horse

The late Elizabeth Lawrence, one of the leading academics in the field of human-animal interaction, was a fierce opponent of New York City carriage horses. She would have been pleased by a recent story in the New York Times about the case of Billy, a former carriage horse, who will live out his days at Equine Advocates, a sanctuary for retired horses and mules. But she would not have been pleased that it took the efforts of an animal welfare group to get him there.

The story begins with Billy, a bay gelding getting on in years who worked for West Side Livery for six or seven years. About two months ago, his owners sent him to live at an Amish farm to comply with a new law that requires carriage horses to get five weeks a year rest. While he was resting, the owners bought a new horse who ended up doing a better job than Billy.

So they sold Billy to the Amish farmer who subsequently bought him to the infamous New Holland auction. Billy was saved from a horrific fate (likely transport to Canada or Mexico for slaughter) by the animal welfare group The Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages who raised $650 to buy him back and an additional $900 to transport him to Equine Advocates sanctuary.

Billy has since had veterinary and dental care and has taken a liking to his new home by immediately rolling in the grass.

Lucky for Billy and shame on those owners who "rested" their horse in the care of Amish. Who monitored that rest? Chances are Billy never got that mandatory 5 weeks off until he hit that grass. A lucky and commendable save.