Carriage Horses and Drivers

Carriage Operators of North America

ClipClopNYC '14 is officially on hold.

What would have been the NYC carriage industry's third annual event in March 2014 is now in jeopardy of not happening, as we must instead put all of our efforts into fighting for our very right to exist.

Background: Deep-pocketed businessmen with an agenda have bought and paid for the NYC mayoral and city council candidates, so that they will do their bidding and outlaw the horse drawn carriages at Central Park, a 150 year old tradition.

These efforts were bolstered financially by the ASPCA, HSUS, and PETA. Small groups of radical animal rights activists have consistently stirred this pot at a local level.

What this means is that our wonderful ClipClopNYC --- an event attended by over 500 people from a dozen states over the last two years, an event formally recognized by Mayor Bloomberg and City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, an event which has raised over $13,000 total for Blue Star Equiculture and the wonderful work that organization does for working horses --- will now, from necessity, be put on indefinite hold.

So, the efforts of those who wish to see us gone not only will put 200+ working horses out of their good homes and jobs, and into the at-risk population, but now have hindered our efforts to help folks like BSE who help other horses.

But we are not defeated - not by a long shot.

We are working ceaselessly on our defense - and we will be victorious.

ClipClopNYC is simply postponed, not canceled -- we will be back to educate and delight all who are interested in us, and do our best to give back to the horses who have given us so much.

Stay tuned.

Thank you,

Eva Hughes
VP Horse & Carriage Association of NYC
carriageassocnyc@aol.com