Jacques Prud’Homme told he cannot drive his electric calèche in Montreal

Calèche driver Jacques Prud’Homme took to Facebook to say he was told he can no longer ride his electric, horseless calèche in Montreal’s Old Port.

READ MORE: Mayor to require mandatory vet checks after horse falls in downtown Montreal

“I’ve been obliged to stop, despite a considerable number of congratulations from everyone, except for a few people that didn’t enjoy seeing me,” he wrote on Facebook.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "I've been obliged to stop, despite a considerable number of congratulations from everyone, except for a few people that didn't enjoy seeing me," he wrote on Facebook.

“Only two of the people said it was a good idea, and better for their horses.”

The yellow, electric calèche was spotted on Tuesday in the Old Port and has been touted as a “cruelty-free ride” by advocates for the rights of horses.

Officials with the Ville-Marie borough told Global News no official complaints have been filed with the city.

However, two calèche drivers did speak directly to the transportation and public works division.

READ MORE: Calèches allowed back on the streets, Coderre abandons moratorium

Anik de Repentigny, spokesperson for the Ville-Marie borough, said “though Prud’Homme has a permit to own a horse-drawn vehicle, he can’t use it as an electric calèche.”

She cited the Règlement sur les véhicules hippomobiles, which states a horse-drawn carriage “is a car pulled by one or more horse(s) to serve as a mode of transportation.”

“Mr. Prud’Homme’s electric calèche is not a horse-drawn carriage, and this is why he can’t circulate on public streets under this title,” she explained.

“He did not prove that he owns the correct certification for his vehicle. He received a verbal warning [Tuesday], and this could lead to a fine.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "He did not prove that he owns the correct certification for his vehicle. He received a verbal warning [Tuesday], and this could lead to a fine."

Montreal police refused to confirm whether complaints had been filed, citing confidentiality.

Debate over the safety of the animals was sparked after a horse collapsed after tripping on a metal plate on Peel and Notre-Dame streets, a mare was spooked and got caught as it tried to jump over a bench in the Old Port, and most recently, when a horse was hit by a car in Griffintown.

READ MORE: Drivers insist calèche ban could mean ‘death sentence’ for Montreal’s horses

Earlier this year, Montreal Mayor Denis Coderre attempted to ban horse-drawn carriages in Montreal for one year while officials evaluated the industry.

READ MORE: Vaudreuil horse rescue fundraising to continue care

The move was overruled after a group of drivers filed an injunction.

rachel.lau@globalnews.ca
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