ALTHOUGH this is the island that gave the world the chart-topping song Bermuda Buggy Ride, Hamilton is becoming an increasingly unsuitable environment for horses and horse-drawn carriages, insists SPCA shelter chairman Dr. Andrew Madeiros.

As we approach mid-summer and the volumes of vehicle traffic and people increase exponentially some people feel that horses and horse and carriages on Front Street and in Hamilton should be banned because of the traffic caused on Hamilton's busiest street and the dangers they pose to themselves and the public.

"Do I think Hamilton is a proper environment for the horse to be in? Absolutely not and we've been very public on that," Dr. Madeiros said.

"The time has come to look at other alternatives. We aren't anti-trade; we are just against the conditions with which the horses currently find themselves in. There are many problems which can arise in horses from constantly trekking up and down a busy road.

"Walking up and down the roads causes stress on the horses' joints and feet, there are soft tissue injuries and the horses' hooves can crack. Constant road use can also lead to chronic arthritis. Having the right shoes makes a difference, but some of these horses don't have proper feet care. We get a lot of leg and feet problems in Bermuda with the horses."

Another factor to take into account with the horses is the stress from everything going on around Hamilton.

Dr. Madeiros says the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is becoming increasingly concerned by a number of factors.

"The noise from construction, the traffic, inconsiderate drivers, tourists, and pollution from cars, bikes and trucks, the heat off the roads and buildings and high volume of people are detrimental to the horses' mental and physical health.

"I can't believe people find it pleasurable to go around Hamilton on horse and carriage. It amazes me there haven't been more problems with the animals.

"We get calls about lame and tired horses and horses underweight on a regular basis. We've had several crashes with carriages. We had the stampede on Front Street during Harbour Nights last year, which wasn't the first and certainly won't be the last. We've had horse and carriage runaways with one that ended in a ditch. We've had horses collapse. Several years ago one collapsed and died. There was also a runaway accident at the Southampton Princess a few years back in which horses were injured."

Bermuda has laws that protect animals from cruelty but Dr. Madeiros says they are not good enough and are poorly written.

"We have the Carriage Horse Act and the Care and Protection of Animals Act. The problem with those laws is they aren't very well defined. They don't define what adequate shelter and food and water are. There has never been any policing or enforcing of this law. The law means you have to prove the animal is suffering. It's not an easy thing to police unless someone is there full time.

"Do I think it's cruel to have a horse in Hamilton on hot days? Yes, I do. The courts are too lenient. Some of the horses have lived in such squalor that it is almost better for them to be hooked up to the carriage and be on Front Street in the heat.

"That being said, some of the newer operators seem to be more interested in doing things right by the horse, but some of the horses, when not working, are just tied to a tree so they can't lie down, or they have no shade or shelter to go to.

"I've also noticed that some of the carriages are in pretty bad shape with some of the wooden parts rotting away."

Mr. Madeiros went on: "The only way to ban horses from Hamilton is if there is public pressure and a large public outcry. Write letters and e-mail the Environment Minister and the Corporations of St. George's and Hamilton and Wedco (West End Development Corporation).

"The other way is a dead upside-down horse in Hamilton. What catches people's eye are dead, starved animals. The only way people will take notice is when you have a dead, skinny horse on Front Street.

"The horses could panic and tear off at any time and it's going to happen again. It may or may not be the fault of the operator, but the danger is still there that they will get spooked and run off. As long as they are in town there will be another accident, it's just a matter of time."

"SPCA met with the Corporation of Hamilton after the Harbour Night stampede last year to say the horses need to be out of Hamilton during the day and during Harbour Nights."

Another critical factor in the horses' discomfort is the high heat of Bermuda's summers.

"As heat and humidity go up their body temperature rises and their ability to keep their temperature normal is much more challenged," sdaid Dr. Madeiros.

"Horses sweat and breathe to keep cool. The sweat evaporates and cools them. However, in Bermuda because of the humidity they sweat but it doesn't evaporate and so it doesn't cool them as efficiently. It takes them longer to recover when at a rest position. And they are constantly trying to keep their temperature down. They drink a lot of water, but sweating makes them lose a lot of water, minerals and electrolytes."

Some people have expressed concern for these animals after they see the horse foaming at the mouth as it walks around Hamilton. Dr. Madeiros says this is normal and that "foaming at the mouth is not always a bad sign. Sometimes it is just from playing with the bit in their mouth. Other times it is because they are just sweating so profusely. Some horses foam more than others, which is normal."

He does warn, however, of overworking the horses.

"If you work the horse to much you can have a detrimental effect on its health. Their core temperature can rise. If they lose the ability to cool then the temperature just rises up and up and they lose more fluid. It can then affect their circulatory system which can shut down. The dehydration and heat stress and electrolyte loss will affect their muscles and they will become weaker, have heart attacks and can collapse. It's like going into shock."

There is another side to this story and that is of the horse and carriage owners, or hacks as they are called, themselves.

Dee Charles works for Shilo, the main horse and carriage company in Hamilton. It charges $50 for a half-hour ride for four people. She says it's not dangerous at all for the horses to be in Hamilton and that it's the inconsiderate drivers who are the real danger.

To people who say the horses aren't cared for properly and are overworked, she says: "We have a very strong Government vet who checks on the horses. This is our livelihood and we don't mistreat our animals.

"In Hamilton we have proper facilities that include proper shade and water. And we would never overwork the horses. Their work day is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and they only work Monday through Thursday. Our horses get plenty of rest and from October to May they are off and have a nice break.

"Our carriages are perfectly safe. They get tested once a year at TCD and are as safe as any vehicle on the road."

Mrs. Charles also wants to set the record straight with regard to the Harbour Nights stampede last year.

"The horses that tore through town were not horses from Hamilton or part of our company. They were from Dockyard and belong to a man whose horses are not used to town, where as ours have been here working for 15 years. His horses were not even tied up and he was nowhere near his horses when they took off.

"We always have contact with the reins if the horse is not tied up. He did not. He left the horses untied and he was not near them so when they took off there was no one to stop them. That would never happen with us. He ruined Wednesday Harbour Nights for us and we have never even had an apology from the man with regards to his negligence.

"My husband Howard (Hobby) Charles, owner of the Shilo carriage service, has been working with horses for more than 40 years. We take great pride in our animals that we purchase from the Amish and we would never be negligent or mistreat them."

She also said business had been "dead" because of the lack of cruise ships in Hamilton this year.

There is one thing, however, that Dr. Madeiros and Mrs. Charles both agree on. And that is the appalling conditions for horses in Dockyard and in St. George's.

Mrs. Charles said: "It's a disgrace in St. George's and in Dockyard. They have no facilities whatsoever for the horse. In St. George's they were bought a canopy to create shade for the horses and never bothered to put it up.

"Our motto in Hamilton is one person per leg of the horse. If you have a tour with eight people then you need a two horse and carriage team.

"This makes it easier on the horse so they aren't overworked.

"But in Dockyard and St. George's they are taking up to and over 14 people on the horse and carriage and are overworking the horses, especially in St. George's where it has a lot of hills."

Dr. Madeiros said: "The carriage operators in Hamilton do have water for horses on Front Street and you'll see the guys pouring cool water over the neck and legs to help cool the horse. They have shade, too."

"In St. George's it's another issue. St. George's can't seem to get their act together. We've been promised for many years that they would make a shade spot for the horses there. SPCA offered to build and help fund the shelter on numerous occasions and has said if money is the issue they will find the funding to get the shelter.

"There is no water on site for the horses in St. George's. It's the job of the Corporation of St. George's and Wedco in Dockyard to have the proper facilities for the horses. At least in Hamilton they have shelter and water. Dockyard has no shelter or water for the horses when they are at rest.

"Wedco and the Corporation of St. George's and the Corporation of Hamilton are responsible for the horses' well-being. SPCA met with the Coporation of St. George's and Wedco years ago and brought up the issues and dangers the horses face without the proper facilities.

"Some, not all, of these horse operators are pretty crappy operators, despite what they will tell you, and don't treat the horses very well and don't have the horses best interest in mind. A hacking licence is what you need to have a horse and carriage and some of the larger operators aren't necessarily the better ones."

He added: "Up in Dockyard there are some areas that are not great, but some that are. It's still congested with traffic problems. Dockyard has more suitable areas for the horse and carriage industry.

"If you look around the Lagoon Park area you would see that it would be a great place for the horse and carriage industry. I think that's perfect provided there is an adequate shelter and water station. If they are going to do it, they need to have adequate facilities for the horses. But right now, there are none in St. George's or Dockyard."