‘How are the horses truly benefiting?’ St. Augustine keeps carriages despite growing welfare concerns

On Monday, city commissioners voted 3 to 2 to allow horse-drawn carriages to continue operating in St. Augustine’s historic district for another three years.Supporters say the carriages are an important part of the city’s history, dating all the way back to 1877. The concernsNot everyone is celebrating the decision. At the meeting, many residents voiced concerns about how the horses are being cared for.“I wonder if you really think that a horse enjoys having blinders on and an uncomfortable bite in their mouth, a carriage attached to them while carrying the heavy loads of people through an urban setting. The operators and city are benefiting, but how are the horses truly benefiting from this?” said Lauren Wise, a local resident.“These horses are not getting treated the way that they need to. After working a very long, hard day at work horses should not be on concrete, even though they have specific kinds of shoes. They’re not meant for that. They’re meant on grass, dirt, something soft