One of the regular images of the Melbourne CBD is that of the horse & carriage. A fixture around the streets of the city, the animals are used for joyriding tourists or romance-seeking couples, and are often “parked” on the side of the road on Swanston Street, near the corner of Flinders.

But controversy has always followed the tourist trap, with concerns for the safety and wellbeing of the horses – as well as that of the public – often aired.

Footage has emerged overnight of one of a horse & carriage operator hurling violent and racial abuse at a passerby.

The footage, posted to the Animal Liberation Victoria Facebook page, claims that the operator had been abusing nearby female protestors when a pedestrian calmly suggested he should watch his language.

The operator then focuses his attention on the passerby, becoming extremely confrontational, hurling violent and profane abuse directly into his face, and finishing off with an overtly racist slur.

Violent and Racist Horse & Carriage Driver Violent and Racist Horse & Carriage DriverThis Valentine’s Day a Melbourne horse & carriage operator was abusing protesters when a passerby politely asked him to watch his language. The carriage driver then threatened to break the man’s jaw and followed this with sickening racial abuse where he called the man a ‘black bit of shit’.We regularly receive reports of abusive behaviour from horse and carriage operators. This is not an isolated incident.Please visit our friends at Melbourne Against Horse-Drawn Carriages for more information about the ugly side of the horse and carriage industry. And if you agree that it’s time Melbourne put an end to this archaic practice please let the City of Melbourne know by posting on their page. You can also write directly to the Mayor (lordmayor@melbourne.vic.gov.au) and ask that they cancel all carriage street trading permits and work with Vic Roads to disallow their entry to the CBD.Follow Animal Liberation Victoria | Vegan Easy Posted by Animal Liberation Victoria on Tuesday, 16 February 2016

What a bloody charming bloke.

The incident took place on Valentine’s Day. It does not specify what the protesters in question were railing against, though it’s not much of a stretch to suggest they were antagonising the operator over the treatment of the animals.

Two incidents dotted the tourist activity in the second half of last year, with one spooked horse bolting whilst pulling a carriage carrying six people, and another horse collapsing on the street in the CBD.

The City of Melbourne issues an extremely limited number of permits to operate a horse-drawn carriage on the streets of Melbourne, and must adhere to a strict code of conduct.

Source: Animal Liberation Victoria/Facebook.