Heat-free for carriage horses: Greens demand protection at 30 degrees!

Heat-free for carriage horses: Greens demand protection at 30 degrees!

The temperatures are rising and with it the discussion about the carriage horses in Vienna. Given the high temperatures on Thursday, the animals could possibly soon be able to get some heat relief, the City Greens demand. They advocate that a ban on use be implemented in the inner city at temperatures as low as 30 degrees Celsius. There is currently a regulation that only takes effect when the temperature reaches 35 degrees, which many consider to be inadequate. Several organizations support this demand, including the Association Against Animal Factories (VGT), which wants an end to the horse-drawn carriage operation in the city center.

As the Small newspaper reported, coach drivers have already received information from Magistrate Department 65 that an operating ban may be imposed this week. According to Leopold Bubak, head of MA 65, the thermometer could reach the critical limit on Thursday. If it is 35 degrees, drivers and horses have to leave for the rest of the day. There were no problems in this regard last year, and the coach drivers independently check the current temperatures on the ZAMG homepage.

demands of the Greens

The working conditions of carriage horses are increasingly being criticized. According to the Greens' own measurements, the surface temperature on the streets of Vienna can be up to 50 degrees on hot days. This is an alarming circumstance, especially since there is a lack of sufficient shade at the six horse-drawn carriage stands in the heart of the city. District club chairman Alexander Hirschenhauser (Greens) sharply criticized the SPÖ's statement that horses were heat-tolerant.

A resolution from the City Greens to better protect carriage horses was adopted in the district parliament. This calls for a ban on horse-drawn carriage rides in the city center at temperatures above 30 degrees. However, MA 65 plans to take appropriate measures at the earliest after a comprehensive heat study, the practical phase of which begins in spring 2025.

Heat study and animal welfare

This study, which is being carried out in collaboration with the University of Veterinary Medicine, will closely examine the effects of heat on animal welfare. Animal rights activists are also drawing attention to this issue and demonstrating to demand no heat from 30 degrees. At normal temperatures, the horses are regularly checked by a vet and so far there have been no complaints. But there remains a constant debate about whether the current measures are sufficient to ensure the welfare of the animals.

The debate about the welfare of carriage horses clearly shows that the discussion about animal protection in the city needs to be intensified. Views range from a desire for immediate change to a wait-and-see approach that relies on scientific findings. While the Greens and animal rights activists emphasize the urgency, city representatives point to the existing regulations and the steps that have already been taken to improve the conditions for the animals. The coming days could be crucial in determining how the city deals with the high temperatures and their effects.