ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — Tempers flared during Monday night’s meeting at St. Augustine City Hall, as the community deliberated the future of its iconic horse-drawn carriages—a staple attraction for tourists over the years.

The long-standing debate reignited after a carriage horse contracted a transmissible respiratory ailment, prompting renewed scrutiny.

Advocates for animal rights are urging the city to sever its relationship with the industry, although the business owner claims that all necessary health measures are strictly adhered to.

“Putting an end to the horse-drawn carriage rides would greatly benefit the city,” stated one local resident during the City Commission meeting.

“I support horse-drawn carriage rides in St Augustine,” said another resident.

The owner of Country Carriages, Jennifer Cushion, confirmed with First Coast News that one of her horses has strangles, a respiratory infection similar to strep throat in humans.

“Yes, I do have a sick horse. Yes, my barn is quarantined,” said Cushion, “I bought a horse. The guy didn’t tell me it was sick. He sold it to me anyway and it got sick.”

Cushion said once symptoms appeared, a veterinarian and the state were immediately notified and quarantine protocols were put in place.

“It happens all over the country, it happens all over our state. We have done everything required by the vet, by the state,” she said. 

The City of St Augustine says Country Carriages is the only company with a confirmed case of strangles in the city. It’s also the only one in the state so far this year, according to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. 

While the city does not own the stables, it does own the land they’re built on, leasing it to the business.

North Florida animal rights activists, like Heather Wilson, want that agreement to end.

“We speak for the horses, who can’t speak for themselves,” said Wilson. 

Wilson has been attending city meetings with other activists since July, calling horse-drawn carriages animal cruelty and urging city leaders to take action.

“Horses belong in the pasture. They don’t belong pounding heavy pavement, pulling heavy loads,” she said, “A lot of other municipalities and countries, cities that are way older than St Augustine in Europe are outlawing these carriages and we need to be next.”

According to the Country Carriages Facebook page, they will remain closed for the rest of January to give both the horses and employees a break. 

As for what comes next, the City of St Augustine tells First Coast News horse carriages will be placed on a future agenda, but no date has been set.

Veterinarians say it typically takes 3-6 weeks for a horse to recover from strangles, with symptoms resolving in 1-2 weeks.