Carriage horses are very stable
Virginia Beach, Va.: I’m a former horse carriage driver who drove professionally for nine months in Boston, and I’ve worked with other equestrian disciplines for the last 20 years. Now I work with one of the country’s largest therapeutic horseback riding centers in Virginia. I wanted to find out more about the NYC carriage horses, so last weekend I went to New York and attended ClipClopNYC 2014, an educational and fundraising event highlighting Clinton Park Stables. As a horse person, I found the stables to be far beyond what I had imagined. They were clean, well lit, airy and comfortable. The horses were happily munching high quality hay and drinking from automatic waterers. I didn’t see a fly in the entire facility, and was hard-pressed to find one piece of manure. Many of the horses were lying down in their stalls napping on thickly bedded straw, while others were begging for carrots from the folks passing through. The stables are open to the public daily, no reservation needed. Anyone may tour the stables and get an up-close and personal look at the living quarters of these horses. There are 144 pages of regulations protecting the horses. These laws mandate stall size, temperature in which the horses may work, city zone restrictions (horses must operate in the park 95% of the day), brakes on carriages, nine-hour work days with mandatory breaks, five weeks vacation and four veterinarian checkups a year. In 2010 there was an industry-driven bill, passed by the City Council, where the industry asked for more regulations! These horses are the most visible and the most regulated horses in the country. To say they are mistreated, abused or overworked is a huge misunderstanding. These horses are stable (pun intended) animals, who are happy and extremely healthy. They are very physically fit. That’s more than I can say for a lot of humans. Libby Colón
Cleaning out Gitmo
Freehold, N.J.: The release negotiated by President Obama of this person Bowe Bergdahl has nothing to do with Bergdahl. The release is all about closing Gitmo, and if he says differently, he is a liar. Richard Doll
The worst at the top
Staten Island: I could not make up my mind who was the worse President in my lifetime, Carter or Obama. Exchanging one deserter for five terrorists makes my decision easy. Anthony Somma
Failing to protect
Trumbull, Conn.: Five dangerous top-ranking terrorists were released secretly by President Obama in exchange for one American soldier who is possibly a deserter. Terrorists all over the world are celebrating this terrible deal. We know that the President is running out of time to fulfill his promise to close Gitmo. It is like releasing serial killers back into society after they had been imprisoned for 13 years and thinking that they are too old and out of shape to kill again. No one is too old to kill if that is his goal in life. The President’s job is to keep Americans safe and not to please his base. By the way, more are being considered for release soon. Joyce B. Pinto
Lifesavers
Clinton, Conn.: I am so tired of hearing critics knocking VA Health Centers. The West Haven, Conn. VA Health Center has saved my life at least twice in the last 20 years. I’ve had the same primary care doctor for 12 years, and all 10 of my medications are mailed to me every 90 days for free. The VA pharmacy is the very best organized pharmacy in the world. I thank God every day for the VA hospitals. Donald Zukowski
High cost of war I
Jersey City: The VA should let any Iraq War veteran see any doctor he or she wishes. With no waiting time at all. Just send the doctor bills to Halliburton. They can sure afford it. Those vultures made and are still making a fortune off that war. Talk about blood money. Fred Burns
High cost of war II
Manhattan: The VA scandal is exacerbated by the multiple deployments of our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, leading to suicides, post-traumatic stress disorders and other mental and emotional problems. If our civilian commander-in-chief, who never donned a military uniform, wants to play “war,” then reinstate the draft, so everyone goes. Stan Zinder
Get a pistol-grip on guns
Beverly Hills, Calif.: The June 11 front page with President Obama saying, “We should be ashamed” echoes exactly what Rosie O’Donnell said on her TV show in the ’90s talking with Tom Selleck about gun control. Selleck at that time was not in favor of gun control. Rosie said it would become a dangerous situation in the long run if we don’t have gun control. Rosie was right way back then. Too many kids and adults are shooting one another because they lack self-control and it’s very easy to get a gun and shoot away. Obama needs special advice from his advisors on how to stop this mess and take charge of gun control in our country. This can not go on any longer. Margo Kent
Off-target
Lawrenceville, N.J.: I am sick of your newspaper touting gun control and ignoring the facts. To see why the Second Amendment stands, you need only to read Voicer Grace Crehan’s letter. As for the nutbag Elliot Rodger, everybody dropped the ball. Dennis E. Van Horn
Track champ
Staten Island: No need to apologize, Steve Coburn. I, and I’m sure, most people would agree that to compete in the Belmont, a horse should race in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness. California Chrome is a winner and a beautiful horse. Be proud of yourself! Theresa Simmonds
Fouled out
Brooklyn: Donald Sterling made some racist comments that caused a whole lot of harm to African-Americans, which we all are pretty upset about. All he cares about is how he looks — how the rest of the world sees him. Forcing him to sell his team is the right punishment because he deserves to be punished for his actions and his long history of unruly behavior. Shanelle Griffin, 7th grade, Launch Expeditionary Learning Charter School
TV trance
Manhattan: I am addicted to television viewing, a timeless occupation. I stay still for a soap or a sap and always see the Wayne westerns. What shall I do? Try to clone myself so I can double-enjoy. Ruth A. Unterberg
Swan song
Brooklyn: Thank you, Voice of the People, for printing the letter from Voicer John Jay Sonners on the late and wonderful singer Jerry Vale. Everything he said was perfect. He was a real mensch. Rest in peace, Genaro Louis Vitaliano. Florence Bail
Party poopers
College Point: I have been a Democrat all my life but it is appalling that the party is not supporting state Sen. Tony Avella for reelection. Instead the Democrats are supporting John Liu, who was investigated for fraud and who had two close advisers convicted of crimes. The party dropped Avella because he stood by his promises to support what we, his constituents, want. Is this what the Democratic Party stands for? Don’t do what your constituents want; just worry about getting a Democrat elected. This is not the party I, or my friends, want to be associated with. Ann McCloskey
Fresh air, not FreshDirect
Bronx: Thank you for printing the May 28 article by Harry Bubbins, “It’s a sour deal, FreshDirect move looks bad for the borough.” As a lifetime resident of the South Bronx, I think that we need green space and a waterfront park in the Harlem River Yards, not more polluting trucks. We have an asthma rate that is 10 times the national average. Mike Bloomberg is gone and so must be the back room deals he struck with FreshDirect. We do not need hundreds of diesel fuel trucks further jamming our already clogged streets. Marty Rogers
Call for help
Bronx: 911, where’s the emergency? Ask a call taker. If the mayor wants to fix the 911 system, I suggest he ask for input from the ones on the frontlines, the operators. I’m sure they could give insightful ideas on how the system could run more smoothly. John A. Hunter
Dr. Diddy
Jamaica: Honorary degrees are conferred upon individuals for meritorious distinction without the usual academic prerequisites. It has been about a month since mogul P. Diddy was awarded an honorary Ph.D. in humanities by Howard University, which he attended for only two years. I would like to know the content and meaning of that particular honorific. Japhet M. Zwana
