Canterbury Council Urged to Reject Horse-Drawn Carriages – Here’s Why
Update (17 July 2026): ‘Horses’ Hoof It to Canterbury City Council to Rally for Ban on Cruel Carriage Rides
After learning that Perfect Pleasure Horse Drawn Carriages has begun accepting bookings for horse-drawn carriage rides in Canterbury despite widespread opposition, PETA supporters and members from East Kent Animal Action – wearing giant horse masks and holding signs urging the council to act – gathered outside of Thursday’s Canterbury City Council meeting (16 July) to demand a ban on the cruel rides.
Update (30 June 2026): Canterbury City Council Shares PETA’s Concerns About Horse-Drawn Carriages
After PETA supporters called on Canterbury City Council to reject plans for horse-drawn carriage rides in the city, councillors have publicly acknowledged concerns about their operation and indicated that action is being taken to restrict them.
During a recent cabinet meeting, cabinet member Chris Cornell confirmed that the council has considered PETA’s petition and shares some of our concerns about horse welfare. He said the council does not want to be seen as enabling the horse-drawn carriages, with several councillors contacting PETA to state their opposition to this exploitative operation.
As a result, the council will withhold permission for the operator to use council-owned land for commercial horse-drawn carriage rides while it considers what longer-term measures may be available to regulate against them.
It’s an encouraging sign that the council is listening, taking the issue seriously and recognising the inherent risk that horse-drawn carriages pose to both animals and humans.
We’ll continue urging Canterbury City Council to act as swiftly as possible to ensure that horses are never forced to pull tourists through the city streets for entertainment or profit.
Thank you to everyone who signed our petition, contacted their councillor, and spoke out for horses. We’ll share further updates as they become available.
Original Article (published 1 May 2026):
“Canterbury Council: Say NO to Horse-Drawn Carriages!” That’s the message PETA supporters and animal allies from East Kent Animal Action – holding signs depicting images of a collapsed horse – delivered outside The Guildhall on Thursday (30 April).
The animal advocates are calling on the council to prevent horse-drawn carriages from coming to Canterbury, including by rejecting Perfect Pleasure Horse Drawn Carriages’ proposal to run horse-drawn carriage rides in the city. The action follows a PETA petition signed by 15,000 people opposing the plan.
The World Is Turning Away from Horse-Drawn Carriages
Cities around the world are moving away from, or severely restricting, horse-drawn carriages. including Amsterdam, Chicago, Rome, Las Vegas, and Toronto. Some, like Brussels, have replaced them with electric ‘horse-less’ carriages that let visitors explore without putting animals at risk.
We are urging the council to follow the lead of other compassionate cities, heed the concerns of thousands of people opposed to this plan, and keep horse-drawn cruelty out of Canterbury, for good.
Injuries, Lameness, and Death
Horses used for carriage rides are forced to pull heavy loads through loud, busy traffic on hard surfaces, often for long hours with little rest. This constant strain contributes to chronic injuries, including lameness and hoof deterioration. In some cases, horses have collapsed on the roadside after being overworked, while others have been seriously injured after becoming spooked and bolting into traffic.
Equines in nature enjoy the freedom of grazing, socialising, and running with their families and other members of their herd, all of which is denied to horses exploited for rides.
Horse-drawn carriages are also dangerous to riders, pedestrians, and motorists. Because horses are extremely sensitive animals, they can become easily startled, 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.
Take Action for Horses!
Horses are used and abused all over the world for entertainment. From Egypt’s Pyramids to England’s racecourses, horses need you to stand up for them.
Take these eight rapid actions to help horses today:
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