" I would point to Old Sacramento where horse drawn carriages and cars have been mingling for decades will no apparent ill effects on either. A search of the local paper's archives revealed no reports of any accidents anyway. Horse drawn carriages can be a charming way for citizens and guests alike to tour the downtown riverfront area. "

" Horse-drawn carriages are charming--in environments where there aren't opportunities for them to get hurt, like a park with no motor traffic. Horses are volatile animals; even the best-trained horse can get scared and do something stupid, endangering itself and the people around it. I own and love horses, but the reality is that, despite what may or may not happen in places where they have horse-drawn carriages, horses can be dangerous--particularly in environments like a city street, with unfamiliar sights and sounds and many random/startling occurences. Carriage horses are often overworked and under-cared for; it's a risk the city of Napa shouldn't take. "

" I agree...use Mules...they're smarter and pull much easier than a horse....of course the resale value isn't as good on a mule when Purina comes calling. "

" Horses do very well in cities. They have for centuries. It wasn't that long ago that horses were used on battlefields, and there are many more scary noises there!

The effort to ban horses in cities is being driven by liberal animal rights extremist groups (is anyone surprised that London, Paris, and NY have happily signed up?). These are the same groups that are guilty of invading and protesting the homes of UC scientists who are researching cancer...with rats!

I'll gladly support horses for Napa! "

" Since I own the only carriage company in Napa, I’m sure these comments are about us. First, we are not proposing to do "hacking"; which is what the carriage company(s) in old Sacramento do. Those horse drawn carriages wait for riders all day and transport passengers around the area. We don't do that. The bulk of what we do are weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, Christmas light tours, Halloween tours, wine tours, festivals & etc. We are working on a reservation-only historical tour that would take place in downtown Napa, and would be an hour long. This would be once a week. As far as having to inhale exhaust fumes all day...no....that's not the case at all. There are no more exhaust fumes coming at them than anyone else on the street jogging, riding a bike, or walking. Our horses are not subjected to ANY type of inhumane treatment. We have gone to great lengths to ensure our horses have the very best care, food, living conditions and love. We have spent thousands of dollars to make our horses comfortable, and believe me, they have it made. We even had a horse trailer custom built to ensure they have plenty of headroom to be comfortable, in lieu of purchasing one already made for larger horses. We have other horses and animals, mostly rescues that we have adopted which are now happy, healthy and given the absolute best care. Our horses are our family. Every horse is different, as is every person, as is every carriage company. We only use Percherons on our carriages. Our two geldings are both in their late teens and extremely seasoned with traffic, balloons, kids, kazoos, mariachis, you name it! They have been next to helicopters landing & exiting. "

" Carriage horses would be a lovely addition to Napa's streets.
Done correctly, the danger involved is minimal - and isn't there an inherent danger in all of life? The 'nanny-state' mentality would have all us all staying home, wrapped in bubble wrap for safety!
As a world traveler for many decades, I can state here that cities everywhere, of all sizes, have horse-drawn carriages. The one poster here says they are banned in London, Paris, and Beiijing - that's news to me, as I have taken and/or seen horse carriages in EACH of these cities (In Paris and London as recently as April of this year, when I visited!)
I no longer own horses, but in the past I have had several Arabians and a Belgian rescue. I keep my finger on the pulse of the horse world too, and I say that anywhere we can fit these fabulous animals into our world is a good place, especially in light of the thousands of horses without a job that go to slaughter every year.
Bring carriages to Napa - I will take the first ride! "

" Statement by Susan: “A percentage of all drivers on our streets are under the influence of alcohol — not a good mix with horse-drawn carriages”. Good grief! If we have that many drunks out there, I don’t think I’ll leave my house! I understand your concern, but I believe our Napa County Police dept does a fabulous job in keeping inebriated folks off the roads. Drunks on the roads are a hazard for anyone, not just horse-drawn carriages.

Statement by pharper: “Carriage horses are often overworked and under-cared for; it's a risk the city of Napa shouldn't take”. Wow, so are many of our working class people in Napa! I invite you to come see our horses. Talk to our veterinarian. A risk the city shouldn’t take? Maybe we shouldn’t have the trolley, there’s a risk it might run over someone! Or the wine train, maybe we shouldn’t have that as it could run off the rails and wipe out several buildings! Or the hot air balloon rides! Somebody could be tipsy and fall out! Or the segway tours, they could crash into pedestrians! How extreme should we go? Adding ourselves to roads in a car, on a bike, or in any fashion can be hazardous. Remember, we’re only on the streets for short stints, and not on an everyday basis. We go very slow, and have flashing lights on all of our vehicles as well as a large “slow moving vehicle” orange triangle. Napa is a fabulous place, and due to creative people, unique businesses and tours, this city has become the number two tourist spot in California. We look forward continuing to share our love of these amazing animals in Napa. "

" I think we are too scared of everything. An urban environment can frighten children and dogs too, should we ban them?

Of course the horses should be well treated, but poor treatment can happen on a ranch too, out of sight.

This is over cautious. "

" Hey folks - obviously NVCC knows his business and cares for his horses far more than just as a business asset. Sounds like a wonderful addition to our city, and not just one for the tourists to enjoy! "