Hypocrisy Abounds Amid Animal Rights Agenda to End Horse-Drawn Carriages in Dallas

In recent years, the debate over the use of horse-drawn carriages has intensified, particularly in cities like Dallas, Texas most recently. Animal rights groups, led by ideologues such as Jodie Wiederkehr of the Chicago Alliance for Animals and Ban Horse Carriages Dallas, have been at the forefront of efforts to ban these lawful businesses simply because they do not align with their beliefs.

While Wiederkehr and her cohorts have consistently decried the treatment of carriage horses, citing concerns over their well-being in anti-carriage campaigns across the U.S., Wiederkehr is now claiming that regardless of adherence to regulations—such as not overworking the horses or providing sufficient breaks and horses having access to water, their latest argument introduces a new twist: Now, Ms. Wiederkehr contends that even if carriage operators follow every law and regulation to the letter, accidents are the real threat. Wiederkehr sites the tragic incident in Oklahoma City last week, where a drunk driver collided with a horse-drawn carriage, resulting in hospitalization of the carriage driver and the euthanasia of the horse due to serious injuries.

Yet, while this event undoubtedly highlights the dangers of impaired and irresponsible driving, it is a flawed premise upon which to base an argument against horse-drawn carriages. The focus shifts from addressing the root cause of the accident—drunk driving—to demonizing the lawful horse-drawn carriage companies. 

What's more, it raises questions about the true motivations behind these protests from Wiederkehr and her fellow animal rights followers. While Wiederkehr and others claim to advocate for animal welfare, their actions suggest a broader agenda aimed at dismantling industries they deem incompatible with their beliefs. And by leveraging emotionally charged incidents like the drunk driving accident in Oklahoma City, they seek to sway public opinion and garner support for their ultimate cause which is the abolition of all animal use.

Wiederkehr’s shallow approach ignores the complexities of the issue at hand which is the fact that horse-drawn carriages hold cultural and traditional significance for many urban communities, serving as both a tourist attraction and wholesome family activity, as well as a link to the past, and a connection to urban horses. Moreover, it should go without saying, but countless carriage operators take pride in their animals' well-being, going to great lengths to ensure they are treated with care and respect.

Rather than targeting a specific industry, efforts would be better directed towards addressing systemic issues such as drunk driving which poses a great danger to everyone on the road. 

The debate over horse-drawn carriages in Dallas, Texas has revealed that for animal rights ideologues like Jodie Wiederkehr, it's not simply about the treatment of horses, but rather a focused plan to eliminate urban horses and law-abiding horse drawn carriage businesses regardless of how humanely the horses are treated.

Mindy Patterson is the president of The Cavalry Group, a member based company protecting and defending the Constitutional and private property rights of law-abiding animal owners, animal-related businesses, farmers and ranchers legislatively and legally nationwide.