Horse and carriage operators say they are tired of having their good name tarnished by one or two unscrupulous owners who show total disregard for their animals.

Winslow Minors, who owns Bronco Corral stables in St. George's, said he believed the authorities needed to do more to ensure that horses were treated fairly.

He said: "Over the years, I have seen a number of horses that have been mistreated. They have been taken all over the place and made to work when they had sores on their back and it upsets me. Last year, I remember a particular case of that happening.

"When you are working a horse, the least you can do is leave that horse to rest in some good bedding. We want to go to bed at night with our bellies full and with nice clean sheets. The horse deserves the same, but it doesn't always happen.

"I have seen some horse and carriages with poor break systems, with inexperienced drivers and unfit horses. Somebody needs to get tough. It is the minority that is causing problems for the majority."

And one owner, who did not wish to be named, said he believed there were more than one or two owners who treated their animals unfairly.

He said: "The SPCA has been trying, but they are between a rock and a hard place. People want to make money at the horse and carriage business, but they don't want to put anything back in.

"It's not doing our business any good. If stables and conditions are not what they should be, horses should be confiscated. It seems that an animal has to be emaciated before any action is taken.

"Sometimes I think the authorities bend over backwards to help these so-called operators, but I don't know why.

"It's time everybody was made to abide by the same standards."