Review horse safety rules

With apologies to Mohandas Gandhi: The greatness of a city and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated. It's finding the right "way" that can be a challenge.

Some vocal animal advocates are on a mission to kill the horse-drawn carriage industry in Charleston. They contend horses are not cared for properly, and they suggest tourists will stop coming because they are offended by the horse carriages. Some of the complaints are extreme and apparently spurred by the belief that workhorses should be freed to graze in grassy green pastures.

But some criticisms are reasonable. City regulators and horse carriage companies should respond accordingly.

An independent veterinarian's inspection of the carriage companies turned up multiple problems with the way horses are treated and possibly with the city's regulations. Those include a failure to feed them well, to treat sores, to monitor weight loads, to repair tack and to provide clean stalls. The report also describes stalls without good ventilation and without enough room for horses to turn around or move about. The problems weren't common to all companies.

Carriage company operators contend that the veterinarian's findings reflected her particular preferences and shouldn't be viewed as evidence that they have abandoned acceptable horse care.

In a letter to the editor this week, Palmetto Carriage Works owner Tom Doyle cited the vet's contention that city tap water could be a potential problem — the vet recommended a filtering system for the animals' water. "This is the same city water we all drink," Mr. Doyle wrote.

The vet's report said Mr. Doyle's company treated its horses the best.

Meanwhile, Carolina Polo & Carriage Co. has requested a jury trial to resolve complaints cited in the vet's report. The company's lawyer, Capers Barr, told the court that some of the violations amounted to little more than "differing advice."

City attorney Ravi Sanyal was on target when he said he plans to pursue convictions if the differences are not resolved outside of court.

In addition to investigating the charges, the city should re-examine its ordinance dealing with horse carriages and make any changes necessary for the care of the horses. The city should provide assurances that trained people will inspect the stables regularly and check on the horses' health.

Specifically, the controversy about heat conditions that are safe for working horses needs to be re-addressed. The present protocol was drafted with guidance from a 1986 study. The city needs to ensure that the information is still the best science available. It should seek the best professional guidance during the process of reviewing the regulations and their application.

Those in the industry shouldn't feel threatened. If the ordinance is sound, a re-examination shouldn't show anything otherwise.

Horses have long been beasts of burden. They have the strength to pull carriages (or farm equipment) and the intelligence to be trained to do so.

The carriage business in Charleston has thrived for decades, and it is a popular attraction for many tourists — hardly the deterrent some would suggest.

The people who own the horses should be required to treat them well.

Animal abuse or neglect, in any form, is unacceptable. Any companies that routinely fail to provide adequate care shouldn't be allowed to do business on city streets.

Don't expect improvements to suit everyone. Some critics won't be satisfied until horse-drawn carriages go the way of the Oldsmobile. Others associated with the carriage industry will likely contend that things are just fine as they are.

But due diligence will be worth the effort. Charleston residents are right to insist that carriage horses are well cared for and that the city's regulations are strong enough to make sure that's the case.