Forcing horses to pull oversized loads isn't romantic—it's cruel. In this industry, horses are forced to toil all day long in all weather extremes, dodging traffic and pounding the pavement. Some horses have even dropped dead from heatstroke while working in scorching summer heat and humidity.

Both horses and people have been seriously injured—in some cases, fatally—when horses have become spooked and run amok. There have also been countless incidents in which carriages have been hit by impatient or careless drivers. Accidents have occurred in nearly every city that allows carriage rides.

When horses grow too old, tired, or ill to continue pulling the heavy loads, most aren't retired to green pastures or loving homes as many people would like to believe. It's costly to maintain permanent sanctuaries for the countless horses who break down in this industry. Instead, many "retired" horses are slaughtered and turned into dog food or food for carnivores in zoos, and some are sold and shipped overseas to be slaughtered for human consumption.

Please, never ride in a horse-drawn carriage. less