It seems that with all of the issues that face us these days that New York’s Mayor de Blasio could pick something more pressing than elimination of horses from Central Park. Then again, that is consistent with a lot of the weirdness we see from our politicians these days.
But indeed, this anti-equine maybe claims he wants to replace the horse carriages of Central Park with electric cars. Progress? Throwing tourist dollars down the drain? Eliminating one of the few ways for city kids to see animals? Are horses just too much nature for New Yorkers, or just for Mayor de Blasio?
I bring this up because here in Quebec City we have horse-drawn carriages. Tourists pay way too much money to be transported around the old city and parts of the Plains of Abraham, behind one of the many beautiful horses who work for… well, I’m not sure who signs their checks.
But the horse union, long ago, must have lobbied long and hard for proper facilities. Behind each horse is a ‘waste capture device’ which prevents horses from being embarrassed by things they might drop along the way. And when the tourists are paying large fees, horses have a ready supply of oats to snack on.
But horses are no fools. They also got the city to install several horse-sized drinking fountains around the city. They didn’t settle for plain old metal or concrete troughs either. No…they wanted something with class, fountains with running water. None of that stagnant stuff for them.
And so, thanks to horses, we’re blessed with several beautiful drinking fountains, big enough for horses. I realized, after walking by them a gazillion times, that I’d never drawn one. I have rectified that omission and present the results here.
Moleskine watercolor sketchbook (5×3), Pilot Falcon, Platinum Carbon Black
Nicely done, especially the greenish tone — hard to get it that subtle. Glad those horses are drinking stylishly!
Thanks, Tina. I’m still trying to figure out watercolors but sometimes I get lucky 🙂
Cheers — Larry
My very senior horse “Hank” would approve! Nicely drawn!
Thanks, Sheila. If Hank likes it I must be doing something right.
Cheers — Larry
Love this! My stars and garters, why on earth get rid of horses in Central Park?? Get rid of the idiot politicians, that would improve the whole place! 🙂 Love your fountain sketch, by the way.
The de Blasio thing is hard to fathom. Those carriages are very much a landmark of the city, as is Central Park. He probably got stuck in his limo behind a carriage and was delayed by a couple minutes. Who knows. Glad you like the fountain sketch.
Cheers — Larry
“Behind each horse is a ‘waste capture device’ which prevents horses from being embarrassed by things they might drop along the way.”
Ah so that fixes the old adage “horses are great but be careful not to step in the ‘exhaust’…” 😀
Another great sketch accompanied by a great story!
Thanks, Alan. I guess it’s only a partial fix as the ability to have a ‘capture device’ comes from the carriage so horses, by themselves, would still carry the exhaust warning 🙂
Cheers — Larry