Proposed legislation forcing carriage horses to wear diapers on any of the Island's roads has been branded as "discriminatory'' by a local ranch owner.

And carriage operator Dee Charles warned that, unless Government did more to support the industry, it would die out within the next couple of generations.

Mrs. Charles was expressing her concerns about The Public Carriage Amendment Regulations Bill, which was tabled in the House of Assembly last month by Transport Minister Ewart Brown.

If passed, it would make it unlawful for carriage horses to operate "on any road in Bermuda'' without a "device...to prevent the animal from depositing manure or solid excrement on the road''.

"This legislation is discriminatory,'' Mrs. Charles said, "because it targets carriage owners and not any of the other different horse users on the roads.

"It's just another reason for potential future drivers not to go into the industry and, eventually, I can see it completely dying out.'' The driver, who operates Shilo Ranch along with her husband and two daughters, said she was against the legislation because it meant horses had to hold on to their waste on long trips from different points on the Island.

"Some of those trips go on for about three hours,'' she said. "Now, would you want to sit in a carriage for three hours with the smell of manure coming from the front and flies buzzing around the horse's diaper?'' Mrs. Charles added that she agreed with the use of diapers in Hamilton because "at least there the operators have a place they can empty them and clean the horses up''.

"Where can drivers do that along Bermuda's other roads?'' she asked.

Her husband, Hobby Charles, agreed and said: "It is not right that horses should be made to wear diapers outside Hamilton too.

"I agree with it in the City just because there are a lot of people walking around all of the time but how many people walk along South Shore Road throughout the day? "Not that many.'' Both drivers suggested it would help if there were spots to empty diapers and clean animals up outside of the city but their opinions were weighed heavily against any law forcing horses to wear diapers.

In addition, Mrs. Charles expressed her concern that, without more support from Government, the industry would soon die out due to a lack of future drivers.

"Right now, we're only making $20 for a half hour's ride,'' she said.

"That's just not enough and we asked for a raise from the Transport Control Department almost two years ago, but they still haven't got around to it.

"If it goes through, this legislation will be just another reason why any potential carriage riders will be completely put off from going into the industry and that's a real shame because the tourists love it.

"I'd like to see some signs that we are actually supported by the people in power. Unless we do, there won't be any more carriage drivers in Bermuda soon,'' she said.

Also voicing his opinion was owner/manager of Terceira's Stables, Norman Terceira.

He said the law had been brought on because there were many carriage drivers "that don't care'' and allowed their horses to foul the Island's roads.

"I could see that this legislation had to come because of those few people who are out there and allowing their horses to dump it in the road,'' Mr.

Terceira added.

"I think it would be better if the authorities found out who they were and penalised them on their own,'' he said, "instead of making it difficult for everyone else''.

"Some people just think they are immune to the law and, right now, they are,'' he added.

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