Animal Abuse: "Blinders" movie - a must see!

[lmarieaa]

I am going to see the "Blinders" movie today at my school Columbia University today. I encourage everyone to see this movie, as it is very eye opening into the lives of the New York Carriage horse industry, and the lives of the poor horses involved.
Blinders - The Movie — The truth behind the tradition
Watch the Trailer
The horse going up the steep incline and then then the horse attempting to drink but his reigns are restricting just kill me.

[michaleen]

You haven't even seen the film yet, but have your mind made up?

You really should do some investigating (and perhaps some independent research and thinking) before jumping on bandwagons.

Blinders is a twisted piece of PETA propaganda.

It is full of LIES and manipulations.

I've been in the NYC carriage biz for 27 years. Can any of you imagine what it is like for someone like me - a lifelong horse person, dedicated to my horses in every way - to be maligned and vilified like this? Even if you are only a pet owner - imagine someone constantly lying and distorting how you treat your pet, and then going public with it. For instance - the water bottle in your guinea pig cage is empty, someone films it, then says this is the way it is all the time??

There are no horse-torturing monsters in our business, no matter what any of them say.

And while everyone is entitled to their own opinion, they are not entitled to their own facts.

The welfare of the horses is what the decent-minded, casual observer is truly interested in, and for good reason. The horse-drawn carriages are a New York City icon; they are ambassadors to our visitors, and the horses themselves are working animals that are entitled to proper care and good handling.

Fortunately, our record reflects exactly that. Our horses lead exceedingly reasonable and content lives. They each receive a superior, formulated diet, occupy roomy box stalls, receive vet & farrier care, and are groomed and bathed regularly. This amounts to food, shelter, and medical care - which many CHILDREN in this city do not have.

Beyond these basics, they are loved by their owners/drivers; they receive affection, treats, and human interaction everyday.

Every stable has a sprinkler system in case of fire, and every stable has 24/7 stablemen. We are overseen by 5 city agencies, and not one WEEK goes by (and sometimes, day) that our horses are not checked by the ASPCA or the Dept of Health. (Let’s see Child Protective Services match that record)

The horses receive rotation turnout several times a year on farms in both Upstate NY and PA.

When the time comes, we retire them to loving, forever homes; some of the owners retire them themselves on privately owned land. I personally have retired 3 horses, one of which is still living the life of Riley after being retired 6 years ago in South Jersey at a bank president’s home.

So go watch you movie - but you should know that you are being HAD by the same PETAphiles that don't want people to have pets.

[CallMeBricks]

AHHHH!!!!! It makes me so mad every time I am in the city to see these animals. As a horse owner and lover I think it is so sad that the abuse of horses is so widely accepted and/or ignored. From carriage horses to racehorses, they deserve better.

[NicholsS10]

Michaleen- I personally don't agree with EVERYTHING about PETA, but this is a pro-PETA website, and bashing is NOT allowed. You need to respect the wishes of the site's owner. You could have made your point without bashing PETA. It also is highly frowned on to argue on your first post.

[lmarieaa]

When the time comes, we retire them to loving, forever homes; some of the owners retire them themselves on privately owned land. I personally have retired 3 horses, one of which is still living the life of Riley after being retired 6 years ago in South Jersey at a bank president’s home.

This statement is ridiculous. I almost fell over laughing at that statement! That is like some unrealistic Disney movie! Are you freaking kidding me!?
Working are horse 10+ hours a day and saying they are living pretty lives is also ridiculous. In case you didn't know, my family runs a non-profit horse rescue and I own 2 rescue horses myself as well as spending my whole life around them.

I have personally seen the living conditions of carriage horses with my own eyes in person, in the "stables". They cannot lie down in the "stalls".
Anyone who LOVES and cares for animals would find this image sad:


If you are a so-called "horse-person" you claim to be then you should know putting horses in situations of honking cars whizzing past them and constantly inhaling exhaust fumes are horrible for horses.

If the carriage horses are so well taken care of, how come so many of them are underweight?

vet & farrier care, and are groomed and bathed regularly

not true, all the horses I have seen are in a serious need of a good grooming, and stink beyond their feces in the collection bag.
If they were indeed getting the proper care then why would horses be switched out in place of another horse to take have the examination for the other one. That is not a lie. Read for yourself. http://www.comptroller.nyc.gov/burea.../MH07_092A.pdf

Why do you subject your horse to working hours and hours in sweltering heat and freezing snow storms? Is it all the cash tourists are putting in your wallet? Sure dosent sound like good horse husbandry to me. And don't give me that crap about how horses do not go out in bad weather, I see them out all the time in frigid snow storms and 100+ degree heat. If you deny it, explain this: Carriage Horses Don't Get Snow Days - Gothamist: New York City News, Food, Arts & Events

How do you explain the use of horses that are not bred or indended to be pulling carraiges? I see tiny horse pulling loads of fat tourists all the time. Horses that are OBVIOUSLY not suppost to be carriage horses, but are anyway...hmm, i wonder why....oh wait....they are racetrack castoffs and were cheap to buy...thats why.

Can you explain why so many horses die on the streets from being hit by cars and heat exhaustion? You must REALLY love and care for your horse when you work it so hard in the summer heat that it keels over from exhaustion.

...If the horses were treated so darn well then nobody would dislike carriages...

Would you want to live the life of a carriage horse?

[michaleen]

Um...how could this be a pro-PETA site?

PETA is AGAINST pets of any kind; their position is that all human/animal contact should be PHASED OUT.

Not to mention, PETA has killed 85% of the animals it has taken in.

Anyone who loves animals should not support PETA.

Why would anyone here not want to hear the truth?

[lmarieaa]

Seriously, I have really had it with these people coming on here and making fun of what we stand for and believe in.
michaleen, if you don't like what we have to say then- go away. Don't you have a horse to be abusing?

If the movie is all lies....where did all the footage come from? Magic?

Oh that poor horse you have. I take pity on its poor soul.

[michaleen]

Who is making fun of what you believe in?

I have had guinea pigs, and hope to have more in the future.

[michaleen]

Imar - fortunately there are many, many videos that prove all the hysteria WRONG.

YouTube - StopLiesSeeTruth's Channel

[michaleen]

...and aside from my good pal's many videos, here's my blog

TheWhiffleTreeNYC

[lmarieaa]

YOU are:

Anyone who loves animals should not support PETA. Blinders is a twisted piece of PETA propaganda. It is full of LIES and manipulations.

You didn't answer any of my questions. Go Figure.
Oh yeah, your no better than PETA. Your twisting the facts how you want them on your blog dude. Come on!
At least I KNOW my horses have fantastic lives.

Michaleen, please take some time to read the rules and philosophies of this forum. Thank You.

[CallMeBricks]

I have to agree with Lmarieaa. I have been to NYC on such hot and humid days, days I wouldn't even consider taking my horse for a leisurely trail ride becuase of the heat and humidity. Yet there are the long lines of carriage horses standing in direct sunlight and covered in foamy sweat and breathing in the fumes. I have never seen a horse pant, until I saw carriage horses. Also, there are so few water buckets they can't possibly be for all horses, although I wouldn't want to drink the stagnant water I have seen in those buckets. I guess having adequate water would pose a problem, the smell from the urine on concrete in the sun would be unbearable, since it is not I can only deduce they don't get enough water. I have cleaned enough stalls in my years with horses to know how much horses go to the bathroom. I have also noticed that most horses have sores, splints, cracked and dry hooves, and are lame from walking around on hard surfaces all day.

Michaleen- Just because you post videos showing how good the conditions are doesn't prove them accurate, it just shows you are good with PR and advertising.

[lmarieaa]

michaleen, Please don't argue with me anymore until you answer the questions I asked.

ANYWAY...this post was just about the movie, thats it! I did not intend for this to become a debate with someone that opposes mine and the forums beliefs and philosophies, but I guess I should have seen this coming from a newbie.

[babybunny]

The trailer and you tube videos made me cry. I had no idea that business is so big there. I have seen the ASPCA on Animal Precinct out there concerned with the horses, checking on them.

I think the statement about how pet stores could serve veggies and hay on golden platters to piggies can apply to this as well. They are still exploiting animals, such as the carriage business is here. It's wrong and inhumane.

[Paula]

Originally Posted by michaleen

Um...how could this be a pro-PETA site?

Yes, the site is pro-PETA, so you might want to look around and figure things out before you start spouting off how bad you think they are and otherwise being generally obnoxious. And you don’t have to see a movie (made by or endorsed by PETA or not) to know that there is rampant abuse of horses in racing and elsewhere. All it takes is the most casual of glances in to find examples and tragic stories. So you say you’re a “good” one in the industry. Good for you.

Originally Posted by michaleen

There are no horse-torturing monsters in our business, no matter what any of them say.

There are monsters of all kinds in that business, no matter what YOU say. You have to look neither long nor hard to find an abundance of examples of the cruelty.

Originally Posted by michaleen

fortunately there are many, many videos that prove all the hysteria WRONG.

Sure, there may be some. There are also many, many videos (and God knows other forms of documentation) that prove it’s accurate and true. Sadly.

At best, there are two sides to the industry, one good and one bad. Unfortunately it doesn't take a whole lot of digging to find the bad, so post all the links and blogs you want. But the truth of the matter is no matter what you post here, it's not going to take a whole lot of looking to find the cruel and heinous and tragic side of the industry either.

[katiewilson]

Originally Posted by michaleen

Um...how could this be a pro-PETA site?

PETA is AGAINST pets of any kind; their position is that all human/animal contact should be PHASED OUT.

From this website:
"This forum is PRO-ANIMAL WELFARE and animal welfare organizations, such as PETA, IDA and others. Criticizing, baiting & bashing are not permitted. Please find another venue to vent your issues or concerns."

I'm not a member of PETA, but I don't appreciate your attack.

And to correct you, plenty of animal lovers would most certainly support PETA. There are plenty of members on this site that hope that one day the pet overpopulation problem is fixed to the point that "pets" are being phased out. A lot of them care for rescue animals rather than obtain "pets," so that's why they'd be on this site.

That's honestly great that you take such wonderful care of your horses. But to suggest that NO ONE is mistreating their horses...that's just naïve.

[VoodooJoint]

Originally Posted by michaleen

...and aside from my good pal's many videos, here's my blog

TheWhiffleTreeNYC

A snippet from your blog

" We TROUNCED the humaniacs LOL"

Why in the world do people like you think "humaniacs" is an insult? Throughout the ages people have stood up against suffering and tried to educate about humane methods of living. Those that wish to suppress them like to try to insult them with words such as "humaniacs" but the fact is we are proud that we can see outside our lives, acknowledge the suffering and inequality around us and dare to speak out, despite facing all types of hate and danger, and try to make a difference. I for one am proud to be called a humaniac and so should every other person called names such as that.

In the end history has always proven us the victor.

[lmarieaa]

It was a very good movie. Very well put together. I highly recommend it. Although, it will undoubtedly make you cry.
...........We also had an awesome vegan dinner too

Some of the scenes are graphic, but it is definitely worth seeing. Tourists are interviewed, veterinarians, former ASPCA law enforcement- a history of accidents, witnesses to abuse, a tour of the horrible stables and living conditions. There are scenes of horses eating feed off of the bare street! To cheap to buy a bucket!? It outraged me to see these uneducated drivers YANKING a horses mouth with a bit it in to get it to back up. Anybody who knows horses know that their mouths are extremely sensitive. The scene of the horse attempting to drink but cannot because his reigns are too tight made me burst into tears...he tried so hard to get a sip, but could not.

99% of carriage horses are not retried to cute little grassy paddocks, but sold off at auctions to the meat industry and exchanged out for new carriage horses.
I also learned that the temperature in the summer heat exceed 200 F, standing in the hot sun, frothing at the mouth, its appalling. It exacerbates their already severe respiratory issues. No wonder so many horses die on the streets every summer. These people do not care about their horses.



I noticed that on michaleen's youtube links, that he is only filming one of the few open stalls. Notice how he does not have footage of all of the tie-up stalls that are so small that the horse is unable to turn around or lay down.

[lmarieaa]

Sorry, typo- the asphalt exceeds 200 degrees F

[michaleen]

Wow - you are a total lost cause.

Easily led, no capacity for independent thinking, even less desire for truth; you devour propaganda like candy.

Shrill & fascistic, self-righteous and WRONG.

It must suck to be you.

I would say you are probably in your 20s....there might be some hope for you as you grow up. Maybe.

In any event, the carriage horses are here to stay - no matter what pieces of lies and distortions some has-been stand-up comic stitches together to make it seem otherwise.

BTW - did you know the filmmaker works for one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world, a leader in animal experimentation? He admitted it himself at the film festival. Just an FYI.

Also - there is no such thing as "vegan". It's an illusion.
For every acre of crops raised, hundreds of animals - birds, rodents, deer, etc - are either killed or pushed off the land to preserve the crops.

Thousands more have their habitat destroyed by pesticide runoff.

A cow died for my hamburger - but dozens of other animals died for your soyburger
;-)

But you stay wrapped up in your cozy, self-righteous, narrow-minded little world.

I wouldn't waste even one more minute on you.

The facts speak for themselves.

Oh - and when PETA comes for the guinea pig owners, I will LMAO remembering your smug self.

ROFL!

buh bye