Onlookers watched in horror as a 22-year-old carriage horse collapsed and died on the corner of Dowdeswell and Christie Streets with tourists onboard.
According to The Tribune, one woman, who asked to remain anonymous, described the scene as “disturbing” and insisted that the government launch an investigation into the working conditions for the horses.
“It was just so disturbing looking at that horse,” she told The Tribune. “It’s a poor reflection on our society because that horse looked hungry, it looked starved and we need to do better. Those guys downtown need to be investigated. We need to shed the light on that.”
After the horse’s collapse, it was tied to the back of a truck and brutally dragged out of the street, reportedly at the insistence of the police.
According to The Tribune, Kwesi Smith, a veterinarian who was called to the scene, said it was too early to determine what caused the death of the horse. “I would say exhaustion, but it’s not that hot outside,” he said.
Mr. Smith also took blood samples of the dead animal for further testing.
President of the Bahamas Humane Society, Kim Aranha also commented on the horse’s death, hinting hat the death could be related to haphazard working conditions for surrey horses.
“We have been trying to improve the conditions that these poor animals work in for years,” Mrs. Aranha told The Tribune. “The conditions are appalling. ”
Mrs. Aranha explained further that some surrey drivers often pay no attention to the hours that carriage riders are allowed on the road. She also said that the stable conditions for the horses are “deplorable” and revealed that Humane Society gets frequent letter from tourists who are “upset” about the working conditions for the animals.
