Big John, downed Charleston SC carriage horse. USA Today.

Will you sign a Petition to help Big John the downed Charleston carriage horse?

Posted on by Tuesday's Horse

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Hello, I know it’s Monday and the start of another work week for so many of us.

Whatever you are doing, will you please take a moment to sign a Petition urging Charleston Carriage Works to retire Big John the downed carriage horse? (pictured above, read full story at USA Today)

I did.  I urge you to sign it too, and write from the heart. The Petition states:

Big John is a 22+ year old Belgian Draft who works for the owners of Charleston Carriage Works. He is considered a senior, yet still pulls carts day in and day out for visitors of downtown Charleston. As most are aware, Big John was filmed lying flat out on the pavement about a week ago. Evidence points to exhaustion but the owners are saying he tripped and fell. The summer is approaching and this is the roughest time of year for these carriage horses.

Rancho Relaxo is a 501c3 nonprofit animal rescue in New Jersey who focuses on saving slaughterbound horses as well as helping with the retirement of work horses. This is one of many causes that Rancho Relaxo is passionate about.

Today, Rancho Relaxo has opened their hearts and barn doors to Big John. They are offering a beautiful and safe place for him to retire.

• If you need to see the video go to the USA Today article here »

• Go here to sign the Petition »

Alisha R. who signed the Petition added:

I spoke to a Charleston carriage driver who told me a horse collapsed and they have been getting harassed by people ever since. Later I find out there have been at least 3 in the last week. I always thought of these horses as working in harsh conditions because of the heat index alone. I agree, they need to be off these streets.

Charleston carriage horses collapsing seem to be a common occurrence.

July 2015. A 12 year old carriage horse named Blondie falls on a busy downtown Charleston street after a truck spooked him. He did not collapse from the heat asoriginally thought although it was already 84 degrees at 10 a.m. There were nine adults and a child on the carriage when the incident occurred. Blondie's accident left him on the pavement for nearly two hours before a crane was finally pull him to a standing position. Source: Post and Courier.
July 2015. A 12 year old carriage horse named Blondie falls on a busy downtown Charleston street after a truck spooked him. He did not collapse from the heat asoriginally thought although it was already 84 degrees at 10 a.m. There were nine adults and a child on the carriage when the incident occurred. Blondie’s accident left him on the pavement for nearly two hours before a crane was finally pull him to a standing position. Source: Post and Courier.

Support the Petition on Twitter. Tweet  something like this to get the Petition more attention. We shortened the Petition link too. See it in our example below:

I signed the Petition. Please retire Big John https://goo.gl/QgrsY0 #charleston #bigjohn #@Live5News

In the meantime, check out the media poll results below.

FEATURED IMAGE
Big John collapses. USA Today.

Last updated: 11:43 a.m.

8 thoughts on “Will you sign a Petition to help Big John the downed Charleston carriage horse?”

  1. HORSES WHO TRIP AND FALL DONT GIVE UP AND STAY DOWN!!!!!!!!
    I am so enraged by this that I could vomit!! If you can tack up a horse and drive a cart, then you fucking KNOW ENOUGH TO KNOW THAT THESE HORSES ARE IN HORRIFIC DISTRESS!!!!!!

    Like

  2. REALLY? You don’t know these people and the care they give their horses. Shame on you! These horses are well cared for and Draft horses are meant to work. I wonder, is this just an attempt to add another horse to your rescue farm, which is to small to handle what you have already?

    Like

    1. One cannot compare a draft/working horse on a farm where the air is fresh and clean and the horse is living/working in an environment that doesn’t threaten his life, with a carriage horse.

      The carriage horses mostly live in unsuitable housing in darkness, breathing stale air resulting in respiratory illness, colic and they are deprived of natural horse behaviour. Then forced to haul a heavy carriage transport carrying a number of people and that is a huge weight, for the best part of the day. Along with the loud noise of traffic and people, no wonder we see photos of unwell and injured horses collapsing on a city street.

      This archaic activity belongs in the history books when horse and carriage was the only means of transport. Clearly, you people are exploiting these helpless horses for money and in the process abusing these animals who are suffering terribly, often resulting in their deaths.
      You and your mob should be dragged before the courts charged with animal cruelty.

      You mongrel bastards!

      Like

  3. Shame on you people for using an old horse to drag people around the city, he smelling fumes and hurting his feet walking on that hard pavement all of you should be put out of business,and probably put in jail for animal abuse

    Like

  5. Horses should not be on busy streets period. And this guy is 22 oh my word please retire big John to the country where he belongs.

    Like

  6. Times they are a changing! Time for the carriage horses to be retired from the streets, New York, New Jersey, South Carolina, Louisiana, etc. No different than taking the elephants and big animals out of the circus!

    The pavement is hot. The traffic is unbearable. The weather is extreme. The hours are long! Time for this to stop! These carriage horses can retire to family farms to occasionally hitch for a wedding, for a hay ride, for a family stroll or a sleigh ride and returned to his pasture.

    Like

  7. Thanks. I already signed it.

    From: Tuesday’s Horse Reply-To: Tuesday’s Horse Date: Monday, May 1, 2017 at 6:23 AM To: Mary Robinson Subject: [New post] Will you sign a Petition to help Big John the downed Charleston carriage horse?

    WordPress.com Tuesday’s Horse posted: “Hello, I know it’s Monday and the start of another work week for so many of us. Whatever you are doing, will you please take a moment to sign a Petition urging Charleston Carriage Works to retire Big John the downed carriage horse? I did. I urge yo”

    Like

Leave a Comment