This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
There's no denying that society's attitudes toward animals have changed. We used to readily send horses into battlefields only to have them ripped apart by artillery. That practice wouldn't fly in today's world.
Similarly, we used to find nothing wrong with forcing horses to pull carriages on city streets. But now, more and more people are opposed to this practice. Carriage horses in Salt Lake City are forced to work in all weather extremes, they choke on exhaust fumes and they have to navigate an increasingly complex landscape of cars, crowds of people, and TRAX trains. It's inhumane, and it isn't the kind of life these majestic animals deserve.
I'm a horse owner and I would never dream of making my beloved horse Kizmet live such a sad, joyless life. I am disappointed that the Salt Lake City Council is stubbornly clinging to this antiquated and unnecessary practice. Even New York City is eliminating its once-iconic Central Park carriage rides. Our city is on the wrong side of history.
Lauren Lockey
Salt Lake City