City of Savannah Code Compliance director Kevin Milton has announced suspension of ALL horse drawn carriage tours in the City for Wednesday, May 29th from 11 a.m. until 7 p.m. This is directly in response to predicted temperatures exceeding those allowed by City Ordinance Section 6-1596.
FROM THE CITY OF SAVANNAH'S CHAPTER 1. - BUSINESS AND OCCUPATIONS ARTICLE S. HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES FOR HIRE
Sec. 6-1596. Equine Heat
(a) Monitoring of Temperature and Heat Indices. The tourism director shall use weather information provided by the National Weather Service (www.weather.gov) to monitor the temperature and heat index. The specific weather location shall be Hunter U.S. Army Airfield (KSVN).
(b) Heat Guidelines. The following heat indices and air temperatures shall be applied:
1. Temperature of 85 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
a. The rectal temperature readings and respiratory rates shall be taken at the end of every circuit of the tour route prior to hosing down the horse. Information shall be recorded and kept on the carriage or at the carriage stand for the tourism director to review.
As approved by City Council on May 11, 2017
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b. Visual inspection of the horses shall be made by the tourism director to detect stress.
2. Heat index of 100 up to 110 degrees or temperature of 90 up to 95 degrees Fahrenheit
a. The rectal temperature readings and respiratory rates shall be taken at the end of every circuit of the tour route prior to hosing down the horse. Information shall be recorded and kept on the carriage or at the carriage stand for the tourism director to review.
b. Horses shall be hosed down with cold water at the end of their tour route. Sweat scrapes shall be used to remove excess water from the horse’s body once it is hosed down.
c. Water stations shall contain fresh and cold water. Electrolytes are recommended as needed.
d. Signs of heat exhaustion shall immediately be addressed and the horse returned to their stable.
e. Horses shall have a minimum of fifteen (15) minutes rest per hour when touring.
3. Heat Index of 110 degrees or higher or temperature exceeding 95 degrees Fahrenheit
a. Horse-drawn carriages shall not be allowed to tour on city streets.
b. Horses currently on the street shall have the option of staying at their stand to keep cool to prevent the horse from being put into a dangerous situation by being sent back to the stables. If needed, appropriate emergent care shall be provided to the horse.
(c) Horse Stand Inspections. The tourism director shall reserve the right to ask for temperature readings on all horses currently in circulation when the Heat Index is 100 degrees or higher or air temperature is 85 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. Temperature records shall be available for inspection by the tourism director. Horse drawn carriage companies unable or willing to provide proof that temperatures are being taken shall be subject to being removed from operation on city streets. The tourism director shall reserve the right to have temperatures taken in their presence.
(d) Elevated horse temperatures. If the temperature of any horse on the street is 102 degrees or above, the horse-drawn carriage company shall retake the temperature in the presence of the tourism director. If the temperature of the horse remains above 102 degrees after 30 minutes from initial reading, that horse shall be ordered off of the street by the tourism director and returned to the stable for the day. If needed, appropriate emergent care shall be provided to the horse.
(e) The tourism director may contact a horse-drawn carriage to return to its stand and request a temperature reading in their presence. Elevated horse temperatures shall apply.