The horses for your hackney ride are all in excellent physical and mental health. They are fed with the best products and spend their “free time” in small compatible groups on the paddock. Fiaker farms in Vienna are regularly subjected to an unannounced inspection with regard to the applicable animal welfare regulations by the Vienna Veterinary Office. Inspections at the stalls are carried out continuously about once a week, and daily if the outside temperature is above 30°C. In case of violations of legal provisions, the official veterinarians take the necessary measures. For example, it is possible for official veterinarians to remove hackney carriage horses from the driving service for health reasons. This is also practised time and again in exceptional cases. Veterinary findings must then be forwarded to the authorities. The Viennese Fiaker and Horse Hire Carriage Act currently stipulates that the operation of Fiaker companies is permitted from the harnessing of the horses to their unharnessing in the time from 10-23 hrs. Driving onto the stands is regulated or restricted in the operating regulations for hackney carriage and horse-drawn carriage companies. The Animal Welfare Act stipulates that horses must rest for at least 8 hours within a 24-hour period. The request of many animal lovers not to allow hackney carriages to drive in the city centre in future, but only in Schönbrunn, for example, is not feasible. Removing this old Viennese tradition from the city centre is a goal that is hardly feasible. Nevertheless, the MA60 will continue its efforts to find positive solutions. It should be noted that in case of observed abuses, the veterinary office is available around the clock at the telephone number of theAnimal Welfare Helpline: (01) 4000-8060. Here, reports are received and processed by giving the faker number. Support and suggestions that can lead to an improvement of the situation for hackney horses are always welcome at the above telephone number.