Press Release – Belize Tourism Board – February 20, 2014 – On Tuesday, February 18th, the Belize Tourism Board was notified that a vehicle collided with a horse from Gabourel & Sons – a horse and buggy operation that operates out of the Fort George Tourism Zone. Upon being informed, BTB personnel immediately collaborated with other relevant authorities to ensure the safety of the general public including the tourists involved in the shore excursion as well as to secure proper attention to the injured horse. BTB immediately contacted the Animal Medical Centre to examine the injured horse. Following the examination of the horse’s injury and upon the advice of the veterinary experts, the horse, named Jack, was relocated to a peaceful area and humanely sedated and euthanized.
The BTB is grateful that no one was hurt but also saddened by this tragic and unfortunate incident involving the loss of a horse. The BTB remains resolute in raising the standards of the micro-industry: i.e., to train the guides, and operators, in safety management as well as in providing the best care for these horses. The police department is investigating the accident and can be contacted for details revolving around cause & liability in the accident.
The Horse & Buggy Operations are regulated by the Belize City By-Laws, 2003, and subsequent Belize City (Horses and Carriages) (Amendment) By-laws, 2009. The BTB, since last year, in the interest of enhancing the quality and safety of tourism services, has provided training programs to operators on animal care; subsidizing veterinarians costs, and encouraged horse specialists in the country to actively sensitize them into raising the standards and care for their horses. This is an ongoing process, and recently the Belize Humane Society and Animal Shelter also offered to subsidize veterinary costs for the horses engaged in tourism services.
