SAN ANTONIO – The City of San Antonio has passed a plan to phase out horse carriages by 2030.
Currently, five companies have permits to operate five carriages each on downtown streets within two miles of City Hall.
Going forward, no new permits or medallions will be granted, and their operating hours will be reduced over time:
- Dec. 5, 2024-May 31, 2027: 107 hours weekly (excluding holidays)
- Jun. 1, 2027-May 31, 2028: 79 hours weekly (excluding holidays)
- Jun. 1, 2028-Dec. 31, 2029: 58 hours weekly (excluding holidays)
The city says it will help business owners and operators with the transition by scheduling resource fairs, promoting its Ready to Work program, connecting them with Launch SA to develop new business plans, and to LiftFund for loans.
Now, we are getting reactions from viewers, some happy about the decision and others not. The following comments were posted on KSAT.com. Some comments have been edited for spelling and grammar.
For the ban:
- “You should see how these poor horses look downtown in 90-degree heat. The heat island is horrific. Time to go.”
- “Long past time to rid this city of the epithet, ‘cowtown.’ Three years would have been better, but five will do.”
- “They need to go. They served their purpose, but times have changed downtown. Too many traffic ty ups and dangerous situations to pedestrians and drivers downtown. Take them to Brackenridge Park or the Pearl.”
- “Yay!!! So happy about this!!! Glad they’ll be able to retire and hopefully live out their lives happily on a field.”
- “Just because something is a tradition for some or that it’s been that way forever doesn’t make it right. I’m on the horses' side.”
- “Best news I’ve heard all day. You could tell those poor animals were suffering especially in 100-degree weather during the hottest days of the year.”
- “Unfortunately I’ve seen many horses that should not be pulling carriages. So I support the city. It will be missed however when the welfare can’t be kept and has been an ongoing issue for decades it was long in coming.”
Against the ban:
- “I just do not agree that city council opts to ban a legitimate, legal business that has existed for over 100 years. The horses used are bred for pulling and patrons enjoy the experience. The businesses as is succeed, so there is a desire to take these carriage rides. It takes away a tourist/visitor experience from the charm of our city. What other legit business will be targeted next and possibly eliminated?”
- “Another blow by city council on small independent businesses! Proving once again that the downtown area is only for Corporate Greed!”
- “The city needs not worry about horse carriages and push these downtown construction projects that ease alot headaches and don’t worry about having a base balk field downtown that create a traffic nightmare. Poor carriage Operators I am a Country Man and totally support yall.”
- “These horses are very well cared for and are not suffering. The sad thing is what will happen to the horses when they have no use anymore? More than likely they will be put down, can’t train them to do anything else. If they are not turning a profit, the owners may not have the funds to keep them around. It’s sad, but it is the truth.”
- “This is a terrible decision. It’s part of ... memories of SA. Part of history. So are you going to ban the horses in parades, the longhorns in parades. These families earn a living creating memories. The horses are well taken care of. Nice way of supporting small businesses.”
- “That’s messed up say goodbye to another San Antonio tradition.”
Background:
Two years after a pair of council members first pushed to ban carriage rides for hire, the San Antonio City Council voted 10-0 with one abstention to phase them out by January 2030. It was a compromise plan that seemed to leave a bitter taste in the mouth of both sides.
Carriage companies had asked for a five-year timeline as an alternative to the three-year plan the city originally put forward. Preferring no ban at all, though, they indicated they may still try to fight the longer timeline.
READ MORE: Horse carriage debate heats up ahead of San Antonio City Council vote