Horses don’t belong in Manila streets

Horse injured after being hit by a bus in Manila” (InqPOP!, 1/19/17). This incident is yet another testament to the cruelty inherent in the horse-drawn carriage industry, which has been banned in many cities—from London and Paris to Mumbai and Toronto, among dozens of countries around the globe. Horse-drawn carriages are hazardous—and even deadly—not only for the horses who are forced to work long hours in extreme weather conditions and congested traffic, but also for motorists and pedestrians.

The loud, chaotic, and crowded streets of Metro Manila are a terrifying environment for horses, who are naturally comfortable roaming in spacious, grassy pastures. Horse-drawn carriages should be banned from Manila’s streets.

JASON BAKER, vice president of international campaigns, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals