ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Horse-drawn carriages are just one of the many ways people can choose to get around downtown St. Augustine. But a petition recently posted on change.org is trying to change that.
The petition claims the horses being used are living in poor conditions. William Cushion, owner of Country Carriages, said that’s not true.
“If someone wanted to come out here and pay attention, we take really good care of our horses,” said Cushion.
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The petition claims the carriage shafts make it impossible for the horses to reach their water buckets without assistance from the drivers.
When Action News was there, the horses were able to get to their water.
The petition said the horses don't get consistent breaks, so we asked Cushion about their break time.
"In between each ride, we have mandatory break times," said Cushion.
The petition also said traffic has become an issue and is unsafe for the horses.
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It reads, “Horse drawn carriages in St. Augustine are a thing of the past, and that is where they should stay!”
While Cushion defends his business, the petition has reached a lot of people.
In the past seven days, more than 2,200 people have signed the petition to ban them from the streets.
WJAX
