This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
As a lifelong carriage operator my heart goes out to Jerry the carriage horse and his owners at Carriages for Hire. I also want to commend the company for a great job in a bad situation, having an emergency plan in place to get Jerry off the street.
Unfortunately, things like this happen. Whether Jerry was at home in the stable or pulling a carriage on the streets of Salt Lake, horses colic.
Animal activists will try to hijack this and make an issue of animal cruelty where none exists. Pulling a carriage in Salt Lake City didn't harm Jerry; colic is a fact of life for horses.
Animal welfare is an important part of being a carriage operator. Its built into most operators' business plans. The horse is our livelihood and our companion.
Everything needs a a purpose. Working for Carriages for Hire gave Jerry and the owners the opportunity to earn a living, animals and humans working together to benefit both.
Tommy Doyle
Carriage Operators of North America Charleston, S.C.