Monday, February 09, 2009
To the arrogant hypocrites watching my lonely blog
I've never been more disappointed in a group of people that I have physically, financially and spiritually supported for years.
You are indeed everything your critics say you are.
To focus your attention in a pendantic arrogant way (attention that can be well spent elsewhere) on a kindly blogger who has been blogging away before others ever mobilized their efforts is distasteful, uncompassionate and emblematic of the true people you all represent.
God help the carriage horses, as they will not be saved by all of you. You have proven that with your attitudes. And that revelation breaks my heart.
Meet Jamaica, an 18-year-old Dutchbred former carriage horse from Belgium
18-year-old named Horse of the Year
by Nancy Jaffer
Saturday January 17, 2009, 7:22 PM
Nancy Jaffer/
For The Star-Ledger
CINCINNATI, Ohio -- The Farnam/Platform U.S. Equestrian Federation Horse of the Year honors, a highlight of the organization's annual meeting, went to Jamaica, an 18-year-old Dutchbred who struggled to find a career before hooking up with national champion four-in-hand driver Chester Weber.
Winning the top award is unusual for a horse from a relatively small discipline, as Weber pointed out, and it's also special recognition for an animal who is never in the spotlight alone, but instead shares the stage with the others horses in the team. Jamaica, who has hackney and Dutch harness horse roots, originally was owned by a man in the meat business who had to get the bay gelding off his premises because the animal had a skin problem. The horse's subsequent occupation, pulling a livery carriage for tourists in Belgium, was cut short because he wouldn't stand still without someone holding his reins, a restlessness that persists today, according to Weber, who knew an equine athlete with potential when he saw one.
This year, the horse helped Weber make history as the first American individual medalist at the World Four-in-Hand Championships, where he won a silver medal. Although he's a veteran of six national championships and two World Equestrian Games, Jamaica isn't through yet. Weber is pointing him toward next year's Alltech/FEI World Equestrian Games in Kentucky."If somebody ever asked me, 'Would you be banking on a horse that would be 19 for the WEG?' I'd say, 'You're crazy, that's not going to work,'" commented Weber, who attended Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J., and went on to major in hotel management at Cornell University before devoting himself to show management and a variety of other equestrian-connected pursuits at his Ocala, Fla., base. "But this horse is tough as nails," observed Weber. "It's been a real honor to share this journey with an unbelievable horse. "He eats, breathes and sleeps competition. He's tougher than I am." Jamaica was chosen as the winner by a membership vote on five "Horses of Honor" from different breeds and disciplines.
http://www.nj.com/sports/njsports/index.ssf/2009/01/18yearold_named_horse_of_the_y.html
Back to REALITY..........
The New York Post reports:
BUGGY BUSTER!
DRIVE TO REPLACE HORSES WITH MODEL T'S
By ADAM NICHOLS
Last updated: 3:11 amFebruary 9, 2009 Posted: 3:11 amFebruary 9, 2009
After 82 years, the Model T is set to replace the horse - again.
A city lawmaker wants to phase out controversial buggy-pulling horses and replace them with eco-friendly electric replicas of vintage Model T Fords.
The proposal - which has been pitched by animal-rights activists for months - has been taken up by Councilman Daniel Garodnick (D-Manhattan), who is hoping to put it before the City Council this spring.
"We have been exploring the idea that would essentially create a substitute for the horses," said a source close to Garodnick.
Michael McGraw, a representative of the animal-rights group PETA who has spoken to Garodnick about the proposed bill, said the plan is to develop electric or hybrid cars, which would tour the same park course that horse-drawn buggies use now - and could even be driven by current carriage operators.
"It would be the cutting edge of eco-tourism," he said.
Emotions are running high about horse-drawn carriages after a public hearing last month into a bill to ban them, introduced by Councilman Tony Avella.
The Queens Democrat claims the buggies amount to animal abuse.
"I support the car plan, but we still have to institute the ban and then say to the carriage operators, this is what we want to replace it with," said Avella last week.
"I think the intention is to get the carriage drivers to operate the cars, which would cause the least disruption and take care of the job issue."
Carolyn Daly, a spokeswoman for the Horse and Carriage Association of New York, said Garodnick had promised to speak to the operators' union, Teamsters Local 553.
"The proposal is absolutely absurd," she said.
"These are men and women who have dedicated their lives to horses, who love working with horses, and [Garodnick] thinks they can change to drive electric cars?"
During a Central Park rally yesterday, the carriage operators and their supporters continued to say "neigh" to the proposal banning the carriages.
Additional reporting by Erik Shilling
http://www.nypost.com/seven/02092009/news/regionalnews/buggy_buster__154260.htm
I'll let Ms. Forel Speak for herself. I'm not even going to dignify her diatribe. BTW post to the blog and it gets published.
You must be about 14 years old, right? Or else, very unwell. So I'll be gentle.Having your "own blog" means not ripping off and republishing an organization's newsletter verbatim.It is quite outrageous. And then to blog about an email that politely asks you to stop.
Mon Feb 09, 01:14:00 PM 2009
The fact remains that I do not know who you are regardless of past e-mails, which had to be a while ago - and You could have gotten in touch with me to tell me your identity instead of this "mystery" ; that you continue to take verbatim things from my newsletter and mix them up with other things that perhaps I do not agree with. And you have taken our logo. That is trademark infringement. You have no right to it. There are reasons why trademark laws are in effect - even if people believe in the same cause. It is fine that you write a blog - but use your own material the way we all do. And by bad mouthing and insulting me - you are certainly not helping the horses or anyone else. You are just trying to defend bad behavior on your part. Bottom line is that you have no right to steal someone else's work. HorseWatch NYC is also a carriage horse blog but it is original. This mystery game you are playing is simply childish and grossly unprofessional. Do things the correct way - (maybe with permission from those who own the rights to the property) and you would not be getting complaints. Elizabeth Forel
Sunday, February 08, 2009
So I received this comment from Elizabeth Forel of The Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages
I have previously asked you for your identity, which you ignored.
While I appreciate anyone writing against the industry, i do not appreciate what you are doing. Please stop.
Thank you.Elizabeth ForelCoalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriageshttp://www.banhdc.org/
My response:
Ms. Forel you apparently have nothing else to do but direct your anger at me.
You have NEVER asked me not to republish the information in your newsletter.
What is the purpose of the newsletter, but to dessiminate information. I was merely furthering your cause.
Ms. Forel - get off your high horse; pardon the pun.
You have a very selective memory Ms. Forel. I've identified myself to you in the past -even shared a letter I wrote to Mayor Bloomberg, Avella and Trump with you. You wrote to me a couple of times in the past and it was cordial. You even referred to my blog in your newsletter.
I take offense to your diva attitude.
My eyes have now been opened to you and your organization.
I will request to be taken off your email list and I will NEVER attend one of your demonstrations again.
I started my blog alone and I will continue to do so.
You are one piece of work!
Protecting the carriage horses is everyone's cause - obviously Ms. Forel sees otherwise.
Thank you for your kind email. I am honored to come in to contact with dedicated people such as yourself.
Thank you for bringing to my attention the issue of searching for my blog on the internet. I'll think of another title for it, so that it appears more often in casual searches for carriage rides in NYC.
My best to you and I remain relentless in my pursuit to ban carriage horses in NYC.
Yours truly,
______
Hello - i was cleaning out my e-mails (phasing out Juno) and came across one of yours, which is probably almost a year old. At that time you asked to be added to e-mail lists about this issue so I have taken the liberty of adding your address to a news letter that I started in September. In this past year, we have had a lot of background work to do regarding our campaign to ban the carriage horse industry from NYC. We now have two web sites and a newsletter and over 8,000 signatures of both tourists and New Yorkers alike.
The most recent newsletter was dated 12/21 - I am taking a break until the end of January.
I also just took a look at your blog - you have been busy! FYI - i have a Google search for "carriage horses" - and your blog has never come up - silly ones have - but not yours? I wonder why that is. The person who oversees my web sites tells me that it is how the search engines work and in your case - they may be hitting the "nyc" first - rather than the word "carriage horse" - just a thought - i am far from an expert. I would not have been aware of your blog - other than the fact you said you had one and I just clicked on the link.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth ForelCoalition for New York City Animals, Inc. - http://www.nycanimals.org/Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages - http://www.banhdc.org/
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Liam Neeson Faces Off With Animal Rights Activists
Neeson stated in the open letter that there's been a "coordinated attempt by animal activists and a certain Queens council member to ban the industry from the city." Indeed, Tony Avella's bill to put an end to carriage horses is being introduced at a public hearing on January 30th (at the same time the industry will also propose their first fare increase in 19 years). Neeson (who didn't seem at all like an animal cruelty supporter in that Love, Actually movie) continued his letter as follows:
As a horse lover and rider, I am deeply disturbed by the unnecessary and misguided political and extreme rhetoric against the horse-drawn carriage industry and feel obliged to counter this action.
The horse-drawn carriage business is an iconic part of this city, employing hundreds of dedicated, hard-working men and women, caring for well-bred, well-trained horses and attracting tourists to New York City for over 100 years.
As a proud New York resident, I have personally enjoyed the beauty of Central Park on a daily basis for many years, and these horses are an undeniable integral part of that experience. The notion that a well-nourished horse pulling a carriage through Central Park is considered cruelty may fit in with animal activists' extremist view, but not with the rest of us. Surely we have a responsibility to protect commerce, especially one with such history, and one I truly feel helps define this city. May pragmatism prevail
Monday, January 26, 2009
Carriage drivers join Teamsters as City Council hearing looms
BY LARRY McSHANE DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER
Sunday, January 25th 2009, 4:00 AM
The city's horse-drawn carriages are rolling through Central Park with a new passenger aboard: the Teamsters.
A coalition of owners, drivers and stable workers voted last week to join the international union as they gear up for this Friday's City Council committee hearing on a bill to ban the industry.
"This is not an animal rights issue for us," said Colm McKeever, owner-operator of Shamrock Stables and a 20-year industry veteran. "This is a labor issue, which makes this a very natural fit with the union."
Demos Demopoulos, secretary-treasurer of Teamsters Local 553 in Manhattan, said the new members wanted some juice in the battle to keep their industry alive.
"What they're really looking for is to be part of an organization that has some political power and represents working people," said Demopoulos.
"They just want to have their voices heard down at City Hall."
There's a historical tie, too: Local 553 represented coal-delivering carriage drivers at the turn of the 20th century.
"They saw that kinship," the union leader said. About 40 industry workers, including the stable owners, voted last Wednesday to join the Teamsters, according to McKeever.
On Friday, a public hearing is slated on Councilman Tony Avella's bill to ban the carriages. The Coalition for New York City Animals, a pro-ban group, collected 35,000 signatures on a petition supporting the bill.
Critics say the horse-drawn carriages are arcane and inhumane, citing the 2006 death of a horse killed on Central Park South after it was spooked.
Driver Emilio Marquez disputes the mistreatment claims. And while he cares about the animals, his main concern remains his family.
"Let me tell you something: We need these jobs," said Marquez, one of many immigrants in the business. "They talk about the horses, but they don't talk about us."
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Home Sweet Home
Sunday, December 21, 2008
It's beginning to look like Christmas
Does anyone care? Does anyone see what I see?
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages Fundraiser
Some of you are new to this newsletter so long story short: we had a place for our fund raiser at an Irish pub in the west 40s. We sent out invitations two weeks ago and the next thing we knew, the manager told us that he had received threatening calls from the carriage industry warning him not to host the party ... so he canceled.
BUT WE ARE ON! The Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages is having a fund raising party on the evening of Tuesday October 14th and we hope to see you there.
Location: Mantra986 at 986 Second Avenue between 52nd and 53rd Streets - on the 2nd floor
Date: Tuesday October 14th
Time: 6:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Our MC for the evening will be Irish comic Fiona Walsh and her team of Ann Design and Liam McEneaney
Music - by Joy Askew and Nellie McKay
Special Guests - Councilmember Tony Avella and Blinders' director Donny Moss
Enticing vegan food provided by Blossom, Candle 79, Caravan of Dreams, Franchia, Kates Joint, Mantra 986, Pongol, Streit's Bakery, VP2, VSpot, Whole Earth Bakery, Zen Palate
cash bar.
Silent auction with appealing and interesting items to be sold to the highest bidder
We are delighted and very appreciative that Tony, Fiona, Joy, Nellie, Donny, Ann and Liam have made themselves available for this great cause - to free the carriage horses. A big thanks to all of them.
Tickets are $30 on line -- or $40 at the door. Please click here to buy your tickets now. All proceeds will support the Coalition's various campaigns aimed at ending the suffering of the carriage horse.
Thanks to all of you for your support - those who continued to buy tickets; those who sent e-mails; and the many who suggested new venues. I am very appreciative and touched by all of you. With this kind of energy and good karma, I have no doubt that we will win freedom for the horses! Thank you.