Carriage talks waste time

The story on the horse-drawn carriages shows again that our city council can find unlimited ways to waste time, which means taxpayer dollars.

Our horse-drawn carriages add charm and tourist appeal to our city. What operator would want to risk his operation by not taking the very best care of his horses?

Lets have our city leaders put some effort toward cutting costs and taxes (suggested five per cent increase for next year).

Leith Harper

Victoria

Horses thrive with a job to do

Victoria councillors’ concern for the welfare of  the city’s iconic carriage horses is to be commended.  But let us hope that they show some real horse sense to go with it. 

If they do, they will agree with operator Randy Tucker that older horses can thrive with a job of work to do. And, like their human counterparts, they may well suffer a catastrophic decline of fortunes without it. 

As Tucker suggests, the consequences could be more immediate in the case of forced retirement for equines: no one can be expected to continue to support such a large animal and no law protects it from a sad end.

It is painfully obvious when anyone, horse or human, has reached the end of productivity.  So, how about if we judge each individual case on its merits? 

As for horses being spooked, yes, it can happen - just as politicians can be spooked away from a reasonable response by the veiled threats of radical zealots.

Dan Pedrick

Victoria

Give the old horses a break

I enjoy the idea of the carriages, but there is a big difference between the pedicabs and the horse-drawn tours. The pedicab drivers are paid to be out there, the horse carriage drivers are paid, the horses get nothing.

In the original article Randy Tucker was quoted as saying that if the age requirements come into play his company will go out of business. Where is the planning to bring younger stock into the mix to give the old ones a break? It is not expensive to humanely euthanize a horse. The responsible choice would be to keep the horse in a large field and feed it until it can no longer live.

The fact that the horse must keep making money for over two decades regardless of health and age shows that there are many people out there who do not care.

Look past the flowers and shine of the harness and inspect the animal. If these are the ones they are bringing out to work, what are they hiding on their farms?

Ethne Koshman

Highlands

Vices should cost extra

People who are obese or smoke should pay any health insurance costs associated with their bad habits, including higher insurance rates for any property or assets that they or their partner possess.

Why should these costs be paid by people who do their best to remain healthy?

This reckless behaviour is becoming far more prevalent and could bankrupt the heath-care system.

Martin Sweny

Saanich