Thousands Join PETA In Opposing Horse-Drawn Carriages in Canterbury

Canterbury, Kent – After hearing that Perfect Pleasure Horse Drawn Carriages plan to introduce and operate cruel horse-and-cart rides in Canterbury, PETA has sent a petition with 15,000 signatures urging Canterbury City Council to reject the proposal.

In the petition, the animal protection group pointed out that horse-drawn carriages force sensitive horses to pull heavy loads through loud, busy traffic on hard surfaces, often for long hours without any rest. This constant strain contributes to chronic injuries like lameness and hoof deterioration, and in some cases, horses have collapsed on the roadside as a result of being overworked, while others have been seriously injured after becoming spooked and bolting into traffic.

“Thousands of compassionate people have spoken, and Canterbury City Council must heed their concern for horses, instead of allowing an exploitative experience for animals,” says PETA’s Senior Campaigns Manager, Kate Werner. “Cities around the world have moved away from horse-drawn carriages, with some, like Brussels, replacing them with electric ‘horse-less’ carriages that let visitors explore without putting horses at risk.”

PETA – whose motto reads in part that animals are not ours to abuse in any way – notes that horse-drawn carriages are dangerous to riders, pedestrians, and motorists too. Because horses are extremely sensitive animals, they can become easily spooked, causing them to buck or flee. In 2024, a man in a horse-drawn carriage was seriously injured after a collision with a vehicle in Leicestershire.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.uk or follow PETA on X, Facebook, or Instagram.

Contact:

Jennifer White +44 (0) 20 7837 6327; [email protected]

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