Sevilla steps in to protect carriage horses from the summer heat
New guidelines recommend horses working in Seville city centre be given a break during heatwaves
Horse and carriage rides are part of the tourist landscape in many parts of Andalucía, and while it may give holidaymakers a break from the punishing summer heat, this tradition can be a brutal undertaking for the horses, often with devastating consequences.
Temperatures in Sevilla, where dozens of carriages grace the streets on a daily basis, pushed past 40ºC this week and with August still to come, this is just the beginning. To protect the city’s horses, the council has issued an appeal to coach drivers to avoid working their animals in the middle of the day during heatwaves, and to take more frequent rest breaks.
These suggested measures form part of a new guide to good practices drawn up by Sevilla council, a series of recommendations that seeks to ensure the welfare and safety of animals working in the city centre.
The guide suggests that when the State Meteorological Agency (Aemet) issues a heat alert for temperatures in excess of 38ºC, horse and carriages should be taken off the road between the hours of 2.30pm and 7.30pm.
This is “a necessary step to protect them from the harmful effects of extreme heat, which can be devastating for their health,” explained Animal Welfare boss Silvia Pozo.
In addition, she stressed that horses shouldn’t work more than eight hours a day, they should have minimum breaks of 30 minutes every two hours and one day of rest per week if they are between 4 and 18 years old.
From the age of 18, it’s recommended that the animal should only work a maximum of three days per week and must have a minimum annual rest of between four and five weeks.
To help driver provide the best possible care for their animals, Sevilla now has a dozen rest points for horse and carriages, which include a shady spot, water fountains and grooming equipment.
In other news: Top tips for sleeping during a Spanish heatwave
Image: Archive
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