Horse-drawn carriages in cities expose horses to heat, hard pavement, traffic stress, and long working hours under conditions increasingly recognized as incompatible with their welfare.
Urban carriage horses navigate traffic, crowds, sirens, and hard asphalt surfaces that cause cumulative joint and hoof damage. Horses on city streets show elevated cortisol and heightened stress responses. The tourist appeal of horse-drawn carriages is increasingly weighed against the welfare evidence by city governments, with growing momentum toward bans or electric carriage alternatives.