The City of Prague has drawn a clear line: after years of debate over animal welfare and safety, the capital is definitively ending the operation of horse-drawn carriages at Old Town Square.
The long-standing dispute over horse-drawn carriages in Prague’s Old Town has been settled: on Monday, the City Council terminated the lease agreement with the Guild of Fiacre Drivers and Coachmen of Bohemia and Moravia for the carriage stands at Old Town Square (Staroměstské náměstí). This brings the operation of horse-drawn carriages in the historic city centre to an immediate end.
“The termination of the 1994 lease agreement marks the formal conclusion of the fiacre operation, which has not been part of the market regulations since 1 January 2023. For nearly three years, the carriages at Old Town Square have been operating without authorisation and have repeatedly been fined by the Trade Licensing Office,” explained Adam Zábranský, Prague City Councillor for Property Administration, Transparency, and Legislation.
According to him, numerous experts have long opposed the use of horse-drawn carriages in the city centre. “For horses, the hard and heated road surfaces, summer temperatures, noise, smog, and constant interaction with motor traffic are simply unsuitable,” Zábranský continued.
Jiří Pospíšil, Deputy Mayor for Culture and Animal Protection, also welcomed the move: “The termination of the contract is the logical conclusion of the city’s efforts to ensure a responsible approach to animals. With this step, Prague is sending a clear message that it intends to follow the path of a modern European metropolis and consistently respect animal welfare.”
In summer, road surface temperatures in the city can reach up to 55 degrees Celsius – a strain that is often life-threatening for the animals. In recent years, there have been repeated incidents in which horses collapsed or were injured due to exhaustion, heatstroke, or accidents.
The city’s decision has also received support from animal welfare advocates: more than 16,000 people signed the petition “A Horse Is Not a Machine,” calling for an end to the operation of horse-drawn carriages in Prague.
