(A) Veterinarian certificate.
(1) All animals used to pull licensed horse-drawn carriages shall have medical examinations at yearly intervals by a licensed veterinarian at the expense of the horse-drawn carriage license holder. Written medical records including records of treatment and immunization required by the state shall be kept for each animal. These records shall be kept available for inspection at reasonable times upon request by the City Manager. The medical examination shall encompass all matters which are consistent with usual and customary veterinary practices in the community for maintaining the health and well-being of animals used for the purpose of pulling horse-drawn carriages. Such examination shall include, but not be limited to, leg and hoof exams, dental exams, 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.
(2) At the completion of the examination, if the veterinarian conducting the examination determines that the animal is fit for pulling a licensed horse-drawn carriage, a certificate of fitness shall be issued and filed with the City Manager. This certification shall state any restrictions applicable to the animal covered by the certificate including, but not limited to, hours of work, load limitations, temperature limitations under which the animal may work and other matters which may affect the health and wellbeing of the animal.
(3) No animal may be used to pull a licensed horsedrawn carriage for which a current certificate of fitness is not on file with the City Manager.
(4) Noncompliance with the veterinary certificate requirements shall be grounds for the revocation of all public carriage licenses for horse-drawn carriages held by the violator, in addition to any criminal offense which may be imposed.
(B) Work limits. No horse shall be placed into service for more than eight hours per day. A rest break shall be given to each horse after a maximum of four consecutive hours of service.
(C) Temperature limits. No horse-drawn carriage shall be operated when the wind-chill index, as reported by the National Weather Service, is below 0° F., or above a heat index of 90° F., except where tours have been prearranged and documented with the office of the City Manager. When the wind-chill index is below 20° F., the horse shall be blanketed during rest periods.
(D) Shoe requirements. Any horse used on concrete, asphalt or similar street surfaces shall be shod with metal shoes with boriurn heads. Each shoe should have four to six small beads evenly distributed in such a way that the shoe will be level between the hoof and street surface. Shoes shall be refitted as necessary, but not less frequently than once every eight weeks. Any shoe lost during the work period shall be replaced before the horse is brought back into service.
(E) Carriage load limits. Load limits shall not be more than seven persons including chauffeur/driver except that a driver-trainee may increase the number to eight per horse. There shall be no exceptions to the load limit provided herein.
(F) Terrain limits. Carriages shall not be placed in the service when city streets are covered by ice or snow.
(G) Age and physical limitation. All horses used in the horse-drawn carriage service shall be at least 3 and no more than 20 years old.
(H) Watering. Cool, potable water shall be made available to the horse at the carriage stand.
(Ord. 2-2000, passed 7-5-00) Penalty, see § 75.99