Animal advocates already against the caleche industry are calling the operating of horse-pulling carriages during this frigid cold snap "inhumane" and "unsafe."
"Horses are most comfortable at about zero degrees," said Alanna Devine of the Montreal SPCA. "If it's any colder, they need to have blankets. They need to have special measures taken."
On Saturday, caleches were seen being pulled around Old Montreal in temperatures hovering near -19 degrees Celsius, and -26 with the wind chill.
By law, caleches can be operated outdoors until temperatures drop below -20.
Devine says Saturday's daytime high, -18, is still far too cold for horses to haul such a heavy load.
"To have these horses -- many of who are old and have injuries or special medical issues -- dragging a thousand-plus pounds though traffic when it's -30 plus windchill is inhumane. It's also unsafe," she challenged.
Mayor Valerie Plante and her Projet Montreal party campaigned during the fall municipal election on a promise to put a stop to the caleche industry; Devine says she is hopeful the new administration will gradually begin phasing out caleches from Montreal streets, beginning with an announcement in the new year.
-with files from CTV Montreal.