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Victoria's Black Beauty carriages sidelined by tax debt

Owner in negotiations with Canada Revenue Agency for return to operations

The Canada Revenue Agency pulled the reigns on a horse-drawn carriage company last week, seizing company assets because of unpaid taxes.

The 12 horses owned by Black Beauty Line Ltd. will remain in their Brentwood Bay stables, but the company's six passenger carriages and harnesses were all seized, said manager Robert Taylor.

"It's quite unfortunate. We do have people who have returned every year to work for us," Taylor said, adding the slow winter season meant no employees needed to be laid off.

Owner Rebecca Spray is currently in talks with the CRA and potential business partners to discuss how to move forward, Taylor said.

The most pressing concern remains the welfare of the horses, he added.

"(The horses) have worked so hard, and if they can't go back to work, they deserve to have alternate arrangements made," Taylor said.

dpalmer@vicnews.com