The death of a horse has renewed calls across New York City to ban horse-drawn carriages for good—and new mayor Zohran Mamdani is on board.
The 16-year-old horse, named Dennis, collapsed and died while giving a carriage ride to two people in Central Park. The NYPD confirmed that the horse died after suffering a “medical episode,” but many critics say the tragic incident is further proof that New York City’s horse-drawn carriage industry must come to an end.
“City Council, what more do you need?,” animal rights group PETA posted on social media. “Central Park goers are crying and hugging after seeing this traumatizing death for all involved. Pass Ryder’s Law NOW and ban horse carriages before another horse dies!”
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Ryder’s Law is a bill that would prohibit the issuance of new horse-drawn carriage licenses across the city. It would also prevent current working horses from being sold to another carriage driver elsewhere or sent to slaughter.
Mayor Mamdani supports ending the horse-drawn carriage trade in New York. Following Dennis’ death, he said during an unrelated press conference: “I know that many New Yorkers were disturbed by what they saw yesterday, and I’m one of them.”
He added, “I support removing horse carriages from Central Park. I’ve also said that I look forward to working with union partners and community leaders to actually deliver on that.”
The push to ban horse carriages in NYC
Carriage horses have been part of New York City life for nearly 200 years. Initially, as in much of the world, they were used as a means of transportation. Today, however, they primarily serve as a tourist attraction.
Over the last few decades, there have been multiple accidents involving carriage horses in New York. Horses become spooked, collide with vehicles, and, like Dennis, collapse while working. Ryder’s Law is named after Ryder, a horse who collapsed on a city street while pulling a carriage in 2022. He died two months later.
Many celebrities have also called for an end to horse-drawn carriages. After Ryder’s collapse, a group of 25 stars, including Billie Eilish and Joaquin Phoenix, wrote to the New York City Council demanding a ban.
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“We are adding our names to the millions of New Yorkers, and people around the country, who support a ban of the cruel horse-drawn carriage industry,” the letter reads. “Tragic outcomes for horses haunt New York City’s history, as well as other cities across the country … We say, ‘No more.’ Please make Ryder the last horse to suffer in New York City—and set a standard for other cities to follow.”
City Council has also responded to renewed calls for a ban following Dennis’ death. A spokesperson said in a statement: “The death of a carriage horse in Central Park is always troubling, and we understand this is a difficult and emotional issue for many New Yorkers. Multiple bills will be introduced this week and will go through the legislative process to allow for input from all stakeholders.”
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
