On May 21st, in Quebec City, there were two separate accidents involving calèches, or horse drawn carriages.

Reports indicate that the driver in the first accident, who went to hospital with minor leg injuries, appeared to have lost control of the horse after it spooked.

Witnesses told Radio-Canada that the horse in the second incident tripped and fell. The family who was riding in the calèche was unharmed, along with the driver.

According to a report from CBC News, the mare lay in the street for two hours afterwards, and was examined by a veterinarian who found she was dehydrated.

These incidents have renewed the call for a ban on the horse carriage industry, and an ongoing petition now has more than 34,000 signatures.

It was reported last year that the Montreal carriage industry would receive $500,000 to help improve operations and regulate the safety of the horses and the public.

Tags: calèche,