The debate about replacing horse-drawn carriages with electric models has gained momentum again now that Palma has decided to end the horse-drawn carriage tradition. While the Balearic capital studies the future of this tourist service, there is a clear precedent in the Islands: Alcúdia, which completed the transition approximately a year ago and became the first municipality in Spain to definitively abandon horse-drawn carriages. A year later, the assessment is clear. "There is no doubt that the change is a success in every respect," says Eduardo Salazar, president of the Alcúdia carriage owners' association. However, the decision was not easy. The sector took the step with uncertainty, especially since the horse was, until then, one of the main attractions for tourists. Over time, this perception has changed. The new electric carriages have provided greater comfort for customers and clear improvements in terms of the environment and cleanliness. But above all, they have resolved one of the main points of contention: the use of animals and the suffering involved in pulling a carriage at certain times of day in summer and having to endure extremely high temperatures. "Before, there was a lot of tension. Now we only receive support and kind words," explains Salazar.

Palma City Council is not considering "under any circumstances" reintroducing horse carriage licenses because this "would represent a very high cost" for the municipal institution, according to a statement today from the Councilor for Finance, Public Administration, and Government, Mercedes Celeste. The need for horse carriages to evolve toward another system is "voluntary," she emphasized. However, she assured that "if there is interest in doing so, the City Council will support it."

Progreso en Verde issued a statement denouncing that the horse pulling a carriage in Palma collapsed due to the weather conditions and the excessive effort they were forced to make, and the five tourists traveling there "didn't even deign to get off the carriage, despite seeing the horse lying on the ground."

The Palma Local Police and the Nature Protection Service (Seprona) of the Civil Guard rescued two mares that were in "terrible conditions" on a farm in the Son Gual area. According to the Local Police, the mounted unit and a municipal veterinarian visited the farm last Monday after receiving information about the animals' condition.