What are extreme temperatures?
In March of 1994, the Tourism Commission developed a Tourism Management Plan. In part it states: There is a public perception that in the summer months, horses are overworked when pulling full loads of 16 people. Numerous city offices receive complaints. The majority (of veterinarians consulted) felt the horses pulling full loads were not at risk as long as they were not required to work in extreme high temperatures. Does a heat wave qualify as “extreme high temperatures?” Not in Charleston. Note the use of “horses” and not horse in the 1994 commentary. Today in Charleston one horse is allowed to pull 17 people – 16 passengers and a driver. No other city allows such a large number. Elsewhere, passenger loads range from 2-10. What do other cities do? In Houston, while the temperature limit is set at 99 degrees, the THI limit is 150. If Charleston had a THI of 150, horses would have been off the streets just about all day on August 3, and only a few hours if the THI threshold were 160. W
