On August 5th, a 15-year-old horse named Lady collapsed on 51st street and 11th avenue in Manhattan, while pulling a carriage through midtown traffic on a hot summer day. According to witnesses Lady collapsed and started shaking, and the carriage and driver also fell on the street. She died at the scene before her body was dragged into a trailer. Lady had only been in New York City giving rides for two months, after being purchased at an auction in Pennslyvannia. She did not belong on the busy, chaotic streets of NYC pulling a carriage. 

Lady’s death has reignited the long running debate over horse drawn carriages, and comes three years after the tragic death of carriage horse Ryder. Like Lady, Ryder collapsed on a hot summer day on a busy Manhattan street. The driver repeatedly tried to force the collapsed horse to stand back up, yelling and hitting him, which was captured on video by a large crowd of horrified onlookers. Ryder was sent into “retirement” at an upstate farm following the horrific incident, and was later euthanized.  

On August 12th, the Central Park Conservancy, the nonprofit that manages the park, formally called for a full ban on horse carriages in Central Park, a week after Lady’s death. This follows decades of neutrality on the issue. They are urging the passage of Ryder’s Law(Intro 967), legislation that would ban horse-drawn carriages within the city, and retire the horses to sanctuaries. In addition transition services would be provided for drivers and stable workers. Conservancy President Betsy Smith has made it clear “As manager and steward of the Park, The Central Park Conservancy is responsible for ensuring this treasured landscape remains safe, clean and accessible to all. The public safety risks, infrastructure damage, and repeated violations of city regulations caused by horse-drawn carriages can no longer be ignored.”

In the latest development, on September 17th, NYC Mayor Eric Adams announced he will sign an executive order to crack down on NYC’s cruel horse-drawn carriage industry, and he publicly called on the City Council to pass Ryder’s Law and ban horse carriages for good. This is strong momentum. Now we need the City Council to pass Ryder’s Law, ideally while he is still in office. Only then can the Mayor sign it into law and permanently ban horse carriages in NYC. The finish line depends on City Council. 

Cities around the world, including Chicago, Montreal, London and Paris have all banned horse-drawn carriages, and it is time for New York City to do the same. 71% of New York voters want a ban. Horses are extremely sensitive animals and do not belong on city streets. New York City horses cannot wait any longer. The abuse, cruelty and exploitation must end. 

The Mayor is ready. New Yorkers are ready. The horses need you to demand that the City Council act NOW

As the Central Park Conservancy says: “It is time.”