Horse-drawn carriages to stop operating during peak heat hours

Parliamentary Secretary Alicia Bugeja Said has announced new summer measures to protect the welfare of Malta's horse-drawn carriage horses.

From today until the end of August, horse-drawn carriages will not carry passengers between 1pm and 4pm to avoid the hottest hours of the day.

"The health and well-being of every animal remain our priority," Bugeja Said said in a video shared on social media, explaining that the midday suspension is intended to protect the horses from extreme summer temperatures.

Malta, like many other European countries, is currently experiencing high temperatures, and the Government has begun enforcing regulations to protect the horses that pull tourist carriages.

The Regulations on the Use of Carriages state that between 1st July and the end of August, no carriage may be used on the roads between 1pm and 4pm. 

Animal Welfare Officers have the power to stop coachmen and remove both the horse and the carriage from the road.

The regulations also establish that a carriage cannot carry more than five people, including the coachman, and that each trip cannot last more than three-quarters of an hour. 

In addition, the same horse may only be used on alternate days, one day on, one day off, to reduce fatigue and stress on the animal.

The measure will remain in force until the end of August, allowing carriage services to continue operating outside the peak heat hours