The Horse-Drawn Carriages Of Melbourne
Near the corner of Swanston Street and Flinders Street, at Melbourne's Central Business District, are parking slots reserved for horse-drawn carriages. Promenaders and mere passersby usually mill around these carriages which have become tourist attractions themselves. They pose and have their pictures taken.
Though not as endowed as racehorses that compete in the prestigious Melbourne Cup and not as strong as Clydesdale work horses, the horses that pull the carriages are pretty enough to lure visitors to try these Melbourne carriage rides. With colorful feathers as decors, the horses are well-groomed and the carriages are well-maintained.
For $100, the horse-drawn carriages can be hired for a one-half hour sight seeing tour of the city. For $200, you can extend it to one hour. Some of those holding the horses' reins are lady drivers. Sightseeing tour includes passing by picturesque places such as Queen Victoria Gardens, King's Domain, Royal Botanical Gardens, Shrine of Remembrance, Parliament, Old Treasury Building and other interesting places.
There is one particular group, however, that is asking authorities to ban these horse-drawn carriages as the members consider the use of horses as cruelty to animals. But many do not agree. To the contrary, the horses are well kept, well fed and the activity does not require too much physical effort. It is not that strenuous. Meanwhile, Melbourne's horse-drawn carriages continue to rake in money as they remain as top tourist attractions. And, certainly, these pretty horses will continue galloping on the principal streets of the city in the years to come.
