New York’s Carriage Horse Problem Is Back in the Spotlight

Earlier this month, New Yorkers and visitors were once again forced to run for safety as a frightened Central Park carriage horse named Destiny bolted into traffic. Just before 11:30 a.m. on Sixth Avenue in Midtown, Destiny, who was hitched to a carriage, was startled by a delivery vehicle and ran into the street while her driver was standing nearby.

Witnesses described a scene of chaos as people rushed to get out of her path. One bystander, Einar Sk, said, “People were horrified. Everybody was scrambling to get out of the way, hoping they wouldn’t be caught up in it, because in an instant, it can all be over.”

Thankfully, no one was injured, though the carriage struck several parked cars before Destiny was brought back under control. The head of the carriage drivers’ union claimed that Destiny was later seen by a veterinarian and was unharmed. However, even if she escaped physical injury, the experience was likely deeply traumatizing and is yet another example of why this industry is fundamentally cruel and dangerous for horses.

Horses are sensitive animals that are easily startled, and New York City is a loud, crowded, traffic-filled environment that routinely overwhelms them, leading to far too many cases of horses bolting into the street and putting themselves and others at risk.

In the most severe situations, horses have died on the job, such as in 2022 when Ryder, an elderly and emaciated carriage horse, collapsed from exhaustion on a sweltering Midtown street. His death sparked renewed calls to end the horse-drawn carriage trade, yet years later, horses like Destiny are still being forced to work in the same dangerous conditions. Numerous carriage horses have been injured or killed over the years, and pedestrians and cyclists, including children, have also been seriously hurt. 

Despite overwhelming public opposition, including surveys showing that more than 70% of New Yorkers want this tourist attraction shut down, the New York City Council has repeatedly failed to pass Ryder’s Law, which would ban horse-drawn carriages and ensure the humane retirement of the horses currently working in the city.

This incident comes at a critical moment, as New York’s new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has publicly committed to banning horse-drawn carriages in Central Park. His leadership on this issue could finally bring the change that New Yorkers have been calling for and spare horses like Destiny from further suffering.

You can help keep up the momentum for Ryder’s Law at this crucial time by joining over 11,000 others in signing our petition demanding a better future for New York’s carriage horses.