Horse-drawn carriage companies are again getting a rough ride in the City of Victoria.

Coun. Ben Isitt has brought forward a motion to “develop regulations to phase out commercial horse-drawn carriage operations on city streets by 2023, providing adequate notice to operators, employees and members of the public.”

READ MORE: Victoria city councillor proposes to phase out horse-drawn carriages

The motion brought a swift reaction from the operators of Tally-Ho and Victoria Carriage Tours.

“Our services are about providing the public an opportunity to interact with and learn about our amazing horses, slow down and experience life at an easy pace, and remember our historical roots,” reads a joint statement from the companies.

The motion also suggests that council encourage industry workers to consider the feasibility of “e-carriages” in lieu of horses.

“There’s certainly something quaint about horse-drawn transportation, but I think it’s ill suited to a 21st century city where we’re only seeing more and more traffic and congestion,” Isitt said.

The carriages have been a contentious topic for years, with a spur in push back prompted in 2018 by a viral video that showed working horses struggling to get up after taking a tumble near Ogden Point.

READ MORE: Horse-drawn carriage, trolley tour company facing backlash over Ogden Point incident

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