No horsing around

TV shows and movies can be revoltingly lazy when it comes to reaching for cliches.

How many times have you seen the image of a couple so hot for each other that they run an arm across the top of the nearest table or desk so they can climb up and go at it? I often wish we'd get the next scene, where the disshelved exec starts trying to reconstruct the files now strewn everywhere or one of the now-sated duo inspects glassware to see if it's hopelessly chipped.

Likewise, if you're making a romantic comedy date movies and it's set in New York, sooner or later you're going to have to put your Tom Hanks/Meg Ryan characters in a horsedrawn carriage through Central Park. Maybe Louis Armstrong plays in the background? Even my favorite smutfest Sex and the City succumbed to the image's allure.

What could be more romantic than a horsedrawn carriage ride through Central Park, the clip-clop-clip-clop of hoofbeats marking a leisurely cadence as the lights twinkle on Tavern on the Green?

How about walking through the park on your own two feet? Asking a cabbie to take the long way around the park? Staying home and renting a movie? Anything at all??

Horses are noble, intelligent creatures who don't deserve the life they get when they pull tourists along the concrete of one of the loudest, most traffic-congested cities in the world.
When I look at the city's horses, I don't see romance. I see that they're often fighting at a bit that's too tight in their mouths, and when they aren't giving a ride, they don't get a break. They stand on Central Park South with no trough of cool water nearby or a soft pile of hay to lay down, often tugging at their bits, shaking their heads aheads the blinkers and other gear they wear all day and night. Would you like to do manual labor for a nine-hour shift with a piece of cold metal laying across your tongue, and never getting to sit down?

This isn't just my bunny-hugger view of the world, though:

http://www.friendsofanimals.org/news/2006/september/a-life-and-death-wit.html
http://www.aspca.org/site/PageServer?pagename=pro_horsehistory
http://www.animalaid.org.uk/campaign/sport/omnibus.htm
http://www.satyamag.com/aug94/jordan.html
http://www.equineadvocates.com/carriage.html
http://www.all-creatures.org/nyca/ch-why.html

The American Society for the the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has primary responsibility for enforcing cruelty laws in New York. Its web site says: In 1989, we overcame vigorous opposition to get Local Law 89 passed to better protect New York City’s carriage horses. This legislation restricted the horses to Central Park during the day. Unfortunately, it was designed to expire, and many of the gains were reversed in 1994 with the passage of the current law.


What can you do?

• When you see a carriage, look for abuse like horses working when it's hotter than 90 or below 18, or evidence that the cinch around the horse's belly is causing sores. If you see anything that causes you concern, contact the American Society for the the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. enforcement@aspca.org or (212) 876-7700, ext. 4450.
• If you aren't sure what's allowable, check out the city's horse licensing regulations
  
• Donate to the ASPCA's Equine Fund
• Contact New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and tell him that you strongly support the effort to ban the horse-drawn carriage industry in NYC.

  Friends of Animals, encouraging the letter writing campaign, say: People from all over the country and the world are encouraged to contact Mayor Bloomberg, since horse carriages are considered a tourism draw. NYC officials need to hear from potential tourists who are outraged that this exploitative industry exists in NYC, and caters to tourists.

If you were planning on romancing your sweetie with a carriage ride, here are some alternatives:
http://www.nyctourist.com/topten_romantic.htm
http://newyork.citysearch.com/roundup/40714
http://www.amazon.com/Romantic-New-York-City-Restaurants/dp/0963440330

Because cruelty is never romantic.
Actually, that's a different movie cliche, and a different blog post.