Montreal

Quebec City calèche horses involved in 2 accidents in 1 afternoon

Two separate calèches were involved in accidents in Quebec City Saturday afternoon, near the Château Frontenac.​ The carriages have been controversial in Montreal, with Mayor Denis Coderre trying to ban them

Both accidents occurred in Château Frontenac area within an hour of each other

Witnesses say the horse pulling the second carriage tripped and fell on the ground. (Marie-Maude Pontbriand/Radio-Canada)

Two calèches were involved in two separate accidents in Quebec City Saturday afternoon, near the Château Frontenac.

In the first case, the driver appeared to have lost control of his horse, according to a spokesperson from the Quebec City police.

The driver was sent to hospital with minor injuries to her legs.

In the second incident, witnesses told Radio-Canada, CBC's French-language service, that the horse pulling the second carriage tripped and fell on the ground.

The family riding in the carriage at the time was unharmed.

Neither horse was injured, but they were given Sunday off to recover from the incidents. 

Controversial calèches

​The carriages have been controversial in Montreal, with Mayor Denis Coderre trying to ban calèches from operating last May.

The attempted ban was ultimately struck down by a Quebec Superior Court injunction, which the city decided not to challenge.

Despite the loss, Coderre has continued to criticize the practice, calling it a matter of animal welfare.

"The problem hasn't changed. I won't let the situation remain as is — we need a horse policy in Montreal," he said in 2016.