Big Apple Issues: The New York Carriage Horse Industry

The horse-drawn carriages in Central Park have long been a flashpoint in New York City, with some regarding them as a romantic tourist attraction and others viewing them as relics of the past that are harmful to the horses themselves. Indeed, in today’s urban areas, horses who pull carriages face a host of health and safety issues, including constant exposure to traffic, noise, and pollution; long hours standing and walking on hard surfaces; hard labor under harsh weather conditions; and confinement to small, desolate stalls with no access to pasture—none of which is conducive to a healthy and humane life for horses.

A few major North American cities—such as Chicago, Montreal, and Salt Lake City—have banned horse-drawn carriages. San Antonio is also phasing them out. Though carriages are still allowed in New York, the City Council did pass a law in 2019 to prohibit them from operating in very hot weather. Since then, however, multiple disturbing incidents have amplified calls for a complete ban.

In 2022, a carriage horse named Ryder collapsed onto the pavement on a hot August day. Unable to stand, Ryder—notably thin with ribs showing—lay on the pavement for nearly an hour as bystanders looked on and police tried to cool him. He eventually walked away but was euthanized shortly thereafter. It was later revealed that Ryder was a decade older than his driver had initially said and was suffering from multiple diseases, including cancer. The driver was charged with animal cruelty but was not convicted.

This past August, a horse named Lady collapsed and died on a Manhattan street after suffering an apparent aortic rupture. Later that month, a runaway horse and carriage in Central Park sent a crowd of pedestrians scrambling for safety and eventually crashed into a sign. According to reports, this was the fourth time this year a carriage horse had broken loose and gone racing through the park.

The city may finally be starting to wake up to the abuses these horses have suffered in a city no longer built for them. The Central Park Conservancy—long silent on the issue—has spoken out against horse-drawn carriages in Central Park. Citing public safety concerns, infrastructure damage, and violations of regulations, the organization states that the industry is “no longer compatible” with the modern shared space.

In September, Mayor Adams spoke out in favor of a ban and passed an executive order focused on increasing oversight while pushing for passage of Ryder’s Law, which would phase out the carriages. Mayor-elect Mamdani and other mayoral candidates have also condemned the industry. Unfortunately, in November, the City Council’s Health Committee voted against Ryder’s Law (with several committee members either absent or abstaining), but the bill could be considered again in future terms.

If the city does move to end this outdated practice, we must also make sure these horses are retired and rehomed into safe and secure environs, with restrictions on sales at auction and to slaughter. These horses have carried the weight of the city’s past—it is our responsibility to carry them into a kinder future. 

See more AWI Quarterly articles about: Equines, Horse-drawn Carriages

See more AWI Quarterly articles of type: Feature Article