(A) A licensee and/or driver shall adhere to the following.
(1) Horses used to drive vehicles/ carriages shall be given a ten-minute rest period at the end of two consecutive labor hours, and potable water must be made available during the rest period. Labor hours are defined as“in-harness” hours for commercial purposes.
(2) It shall be unlawful to keep a horse in harness for commercial purposes for periods in excess of eight successive labor hours without a minimum of three successive hours out of harness. The eight successive hour rule is defined as “in-harness” hours for commercial purposes, whether those hours are accumulated in-state or out-of-state.
(3) Horses shall not be in harness for commercial purposes more than five days in a seven- day period.
(B) Horses’ hoofs must be properly shod with rubber compound type horse shoes, borium/driltex shoes or similar non-slip type shoes to keep the animal from slipping on the pavement and the hoof shall be kept trimmed.
(C) All horses must have medical examinations at six-month intervals by a licensed veterinarian at the expense of the licensee, and written medical records including state-required immunizations and treatment should be kept on each horse and be available for inspection at reasonable times upon request by the city or its designee. The examination shall encompass that which is consistent with maintaining the health and well-being of the animal as determined by the usual and customary recommended treatment of animals working under such conditions by the Veterinarian Association. Such examinations should include, but not be limited to, leg and hoof exams, dental exams, internal parasite lab report, cardiovascular exam and drug analysis at intervals sufficient to detect inhumane treatment of the animal at the discretion of the licensed veterinarian if drug abuse is suspected.
(D) Horse equipment such as harnesses, bridles and bits must be properly fitted and kept clean and in good repair. Collars, if used, should fit the horse properly.
(E) Horses shall not be worked for commercial purposes in temperatures below 25°F under calm conditions or a wind chill equivalent of 22°F, nor shall a horse be worked for commercial purposes in temperatures above 90°F as combined with a maximum relative humidity of 10%, or an equivalent temperature of 90°F as combined with relative humidity. All references to temperature shall be as established by the U.S. Weather Bureau for urban areas (i.e., Covington).
(F) Horses must receive adequate and substantial feeding daily which is free from contamination. The feed should be of sufficient quantity and nutritive value to meet normal daily requirements for the condition and size of the animal so as to maintain a healthy flesh.
(G) Lame or sick horses should never be worked.
(H) The paddock area of the stables must be kept free of debris and have adequate drainage and soil surface so that it can be used by the horses at any time while not working.
(I) Stable stalls shall be a minimum of 12 feet by 12 feet per horse.
(J) Clean, fresh drinking water must be in the stalls and available to the horse at all times.
(K) Stall bedding should be a minimum of four inches deep and changed daily.
(L) All buildings and sheds used for stabling horses shall be well-lighted and ventilated and provide protection from the weather. All buildings and sheds used for stabling the animals shall be kept clean and in good repair at all times and manure shall be removed therefrom daily. Any enclosure where the animals are kept shall be graded and raked so as to keep the surface reasonably dry.
(M) A pest control program should be utilized to control flies and other insects. All facilities shall be free of unsanitary conditions where animals are kept so as to be free and clean of conditions which might harbor or be excessively conducive to the breeding of insects, rodents or disease.
(N) No animal shall be subject to any cruel or harassing treatment, including any violation of the mandatory rest periods and water schedules, as well as the other criteria established herein. The licensee shall be responsible for the humane care and treatment of his or her animals, or the animals used in the business operation when they are under his or her direct supervision and control. At all other times, the licensee is required to take all necessary and reasonable steps to ensure the humane care and treatment of the animals while under the direct supervision and control of the licensed driver or of any other employees the licensee might employ in connection with the care and shelter of the animals.
(O) All such facilities shall be subject to inspection at reasonable times, upon request thereof, by a representative of the Animal Rights Community, the Animal Welfare League, the county’s Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and/or the animal warden of the city. The Building Official shall, likewise, at reasonable times, upon request thereof, be permitted to inspect the premises for Building or Fire Code violations pursuant to state, local or federal regulations.
(P) (1) Consecutive daily records in a bound volume, in ink, must be kept of the movements of each horse-drawn vehicle/carriage and horse by the licensee, as follows:
(a) Driver’s name;
(b) Driver’s permit expiration date;
(c) Horse’s identification number;
(d) Vehicle/carriage plate permit number;
(e) Exact time of departure; and
(f) Exact time of return.
(2) Such records shall be subject to inspection by the city’s designee at reasonable times, upon request thereof.
(1984 Code, § 111.404) (Ord. O-16-87, passed 3-24-1987; Ord. O-56-04, passed 8-24-2004)