06/17/2026
🚨 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬: 𝐋𝐨𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬 📰
Carriage horses are one of the most controversial topics in the horse industry.
Some believe horses have no place pulling carriages through city streets and view the practice as inherently inhumane. Others argue that horses have worked alongside humans for thousands of years, and that carriage operations can provide horses with a reasonable job while also exposing the public to agriculture and animal care.
And if I'm being honest, I can understand both perspectives.
I understand what constitutes a reasonable workload for a horse, and I know that many carriage horse operations in the United States are subject to regulations that are far stricter than what applies to the average horse owner. At the same time, I understand why people have concerns, especially when they see images or videos without context, or when they are familiar with countries and regions where oversight may be limited.
Rather than relying on opinions, I wanted to see what the research actually says.
🔬 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡
I tracked down studies from several countries that evaluated the welfare, workload, and physiological responses of working carriage horses.
🇨🇱 In Chile, researchers evaluated 10 healthy carriage horses before, during, and after work. Horses traveled routes between 1.9 and 2.9 miles (3.09 and 4.64 km) at an average speed of 7 mph (3.19 m/s). The researchers found horses exerted less force than draught horses used for agriculture purposes. Additionally, heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood parameters returned to baseline within 10 minutes after a tour ended. Researchers concluded the horses demonstrated normal physiological adaptations to their workload and exerted a submaximal effort in terms of speed, force, and physiological parameters assessed (Vergara et al., 2015).
🇮🇹 In Sicily, researchers followed 22 Standardbreds working carriage routes ranging from 0.9 to 1.5 miles (1.5 to 2.5 km). Although horses were on duty for an 8-hour day, they actively worked an average of 4.8 hours. Workload did not affect measured stress indicators, though hotter summer temperatures increased some physiological measures. Researchers concluded the horses adapted well to the workload but recommended reducing work or increasing water availability during the hottest periods of summer (Arfuso et al. 2024).
🇲🇽 In Mexico, 33 Criollo horses were observed over several months completing average routes of 3.1 miles (5 km). Horses worked an average of 4.7 hours during an 8-hour shift and were given a day off after every two consecutive workdays. Researchers found the horses were performing submaximal exercise and did not appear to be overexerted. However, they noted that access to water during work could be improved as it was not made available during the shift (de Jesús Tello-Pasos et al., 2020).
🇺🇸 In Charleston, South Carolina, researchers reviewed welfare records from 14 horses and 31 mules between 2009 and 2012. Animals worked an average of 4.6 hours during an 8-hour day, received mandatory water breaks between tours, and were fed before and after work. They were also required to receive at least 14 days of pasture turnout each quarter, totaling six weeks off annually (Rosser and Ardis, 2014).
🗽 Finally, researchers evaluated 13 carriage horses working in New York City's Central Park. They compared stress-related hormones in working horses to 5 carriage horses living on a 4-acre pasture during their mandatory furlough period. The working horses completed routes between 1 and 2 miles (1.6 and 3.2 km) throughout their maximum 9-hour shift. The study found no meaningful differences in stress parameters between the two groups when f***l glucocorticoid and salivary cortisol were evaluated. Researchers concluded the carriage horses did not exhibit physiological indicators associated with compromised welfare (Mercer-Bowyer et al., 2017).
In addition to the research findings, Central Park carriage horses are subject to regulations that include:
💤 At least 15 minutes of rest for every 2 hours worked
⏰ A maximum of 9 working hours in a 24-hour period
🏝️ A minimum of 5 weeks of vacation annually
🌡️ Work restrictions when temperatures fall below 18°F (8°C) or are above 90°F (32°C) or the heat index is above 150.
☔️ Protection from inclement weather with waterproof blankets
🐎 Daily exercise requirements to reduce the risk of colic and tying up, especially during slower seasons
𝐒𝐨 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐰𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬?
Based on the studies currently available, carriage horses appear to be well adapted to the level of work they are asked to perform in which they exert submaximal effort that does not result in measurable physiological signs of chronic stress or compromised welfare.
Despite being on duty for an 8-hour day, most horses are actively working for only a portion of that time, averaging approximately 4.5 to 5 hours.
And in the United States, carriage horses are often regulated more closely than the average privately owned horse.
𝐃𝐨𝐞𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐞𝐚𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝?
Absolutely not.
As someone who has no direct involvement in the carriage horse industry, I fully recognize that there may be logistical, financial, or practical considerations that I am not aware of. However, from an outsider’s perspective and based on my understanding of equine welfare, there are several changes I would still like to see:
🏠 Larger minimum stall size - personally, I would prefer a minimum of 12' x 12'.
🏝️ More frequent furlough periods, similar to Charleston's requirement of 14 days off every quarter rather than one longer annual break.
🍽️ Continuous access to feed during the workday. The study in Central Park noted feed was available to horses throughout their shift, but other studies noted horses ate before and after their work shift and access to food was not given during. Horses are natural grazers, and I believe access to feed throughout the day should be standard practice.
📜 While the United States has more mandatory regulations and oversight, I would love to see universal standards for water breaks, housing, and extreme temperatures and weather conditions.
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧
At the end of the day, good welfare should not be judged by whether a horse has a job. It should be judged by whether that horse's physical and behavioral needs are being met.
The research suggests that carriage work itself is not necessarily incompatible with good welfare. The more important question is whether the individual operation is providing appropriate management, housing, nutrition, healthcare, and rest.
What are your thoughts?
Cheers,
Dr. DeBoer
Vergara F, Tadich TA. Effect of the work performed by tourism carriage horses on physiological and blood parameters. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 2015 Mar 1;35(3):213-8.
Arfuso F, Rizzo M, Arrigo F, Francaviglia F, Perillo L, Schembri P, Zumbo LE, Disclafani R, Piccione G, Monteverde V. Welfare and stress assessment of tourism carriage horses under real working conditions in Sicily. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 2024 Aug 1;139:105136.
de Jesús Tello-Pasos A, González-Pech PG, Blanco-Molina JM. Observational Study of the Route’s Characteristics of Tourism Carriage in a Tropical City. Journal of equine veterinary science. 2020 May 1;88:102966.
Rosser JM, Ardis A. Retrospective Review of Carriage Horse and Mule Welfare in Charleston, South Carolina (2009–2012). Journal of Equine Veterinary Science. 2014 Jun 1;34(6):816-9.
Mercer-Bowyer S, Kersey DC, Bertone JJ. Use of f***l glucocorticoid and salivary cortisol concentrations as a measure of well-being of New York City carriage horses. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2017 Feb 1;250(3):316-21.
