Most citizens want security measures in place instead of ban on horse rides

While the authorities are planning to completely ban horse riding at Ghoda Garden in Cooperage after a six-year-old girl died from falling off a horse on Sunday evening, residents of the area have mixed reactions. Most, however, are against the ban. They stated that riding should be allowed provided there are safety measures in place.

In June 2015, Bombay High Court had banned use of Victoria carriages in South Mumbai under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Specific licenses are given to horse owners if they want to conduct rides at Ghoda Garden. However, after the HC's order in 2015, the BMC had not renewed licenses of horse owners who used to conduct rides at the said garden.

Even after BMC's move of not renewing the licenses, horse rides were being conducted at the garden for the past two years, illegally. Sunday's incident forced police to take a stern measure and prohibit rides in the garden.

Now BMC has sent a show cause notice to the local contractor of the garden and has asked him to beef up security to ensure no horse riding takes place there. Additionally, BMC has also written to police asking them not to allow horse riding in the garden.

BMC and police departments had a meeting on Tuesday wherein it was unanimously decided to close the garden for horse riding. 

In the meeting the possibility of impounding and rehabilitating horses was also discussed.

THE INCIDENT

Six-year-old, Janhavi Sharma was taking a pony ride on Sunday around 4.30 pm with her father when the horse she was riding slipped. Janhavi slid off the horse and sustained a severe head injury. She was later declared dead on arrival at the hospital. Colaba police arrested the horse rider and booked him for causing death due to negligence.

EXPERTS SPEAK

Horse riding was carrying on illegally since the HC issued orders and we had not renewed the licenses. Now we have decided to completely ban horse rides at Ghoda Garden. We have also written a letter to the police and issued a show cause notice to the contractor asking him to increase security in the garden after the incident 
— Kiran Dighaonkar, assistant commissioner of BMC (A Ward)

We had already prohibited horse rides in the garden and a meeting was held with BMC officials wherein we have decided to completely ban the rides 
—Manoj Kumar Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone 1)

CITIZEN VOICES

There should not be a ban on horse rides because children love horses. It should, however, be kept in a specific, secured area. They can have a designated area in the sand, with sufficient security gear so there is no chance of injury. That will be a win-win situation.
— Mahendra Hemdev

No, there should not be a complete ban on horse rides. Horses are pack animals and they love to race or run with people. Let SoBo children enjoy horse riding in this compact Mumbai. However, safety should be the main concern. The ground should be well maintained, helmets & other accessories should be provided. Accidents can happen on roads while crossing on the zebra crossing, but you can't ban cars on roads
—Rocky Lobo

Noone is taking responsibility for the incident, but I am sure most of us have taken horse rides and this place is in existence for six or more decades. The government should come up with some precautionary measures and allow the rides to go on with certain rules and safety gear. BMC should open up a stall providing these facilities if horse owners find it difficult.You cannot ban everything, you can only make them safer.
—Krishna Pavle

If BMC cannot maintain the Cooperage ground efficiently for recreational rides for kids with proper security measures, it is best to ban horse rides in this area as it is a safety issue and both BMC and those who organise horse riding are playing with the lives of innocent kids. BMC should also give an undertaking that they will be as criminally liable as the horse owner for any mishaps taking place in the future
—Subhash Motwani

"I used to go to Bandstand for horse rides as a kid myself, and later took my kids too. However, as a parent I was always afraid of the security measures (or lack of them) there. To take a horse ride you need to cross the track where the horses are galloping on concrete (again not a good idea), and there are no safety measures for mounting/dismounting, rider helmets etc. In fact, I was stepped upon by a horse once, while taking my son there. While I don't believe there should be a complete ban, the authorities should ensure safety of the children by taking simple steps like using soft ground for the track, easy entry to the place to mount/dismount from the horse, mandating helmets and regulating number of operators there." 
—Vikram Gidwani

The authorities should take necessary steps to prevent the conduct of all unregulated, unlicensed and unsafe riding activities on public roads and public spaces. There must be some basic level of generally accepted safety measures in place which include highly trained handlers and a safe environment for the horses in question. The Amateurs Riders Club at the R.W.I.T.C. is an excellent example of how horse riding activities can be conducted in a professionally managed safe environment with equal importance being given to the health and safety of not only young riders but the horses as well.
—Mukul Mehra, resident of Napean Sea road.