The city has taken a firm stance.
In an executive order signed by Mayor Eric Adams just before the transition to his successor, Zoran Mamdani, horse-drawn carriage drivers in New York City will now be required to have their horses examined by a veterinarian hired by the city. This initiative aims to check for potential drug use, injuries, or signs of abuse, with noncompliance leading to possible license revocation.
This decision follows the recent attempt by Dr. Craig Kulikowski, a city-hired veterinarian, to carry out independent assessments on a selection of carriage horses from three different stables. His efforts were reportedly obstructed.
During his initial observations, he noted alarming signs, including scars that suggested the use of inadequate equipment. “The horse showed signs of abuse,” remarked outgoing First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro to the Post.
It’s worth mentioning that all twelve carriage owners declined to undergo the “standard” follow-up tests, which included evaluations for lameness and drug screenings, as the Post previously reported.
“There is a right to inspection, and now horse-drawn carriage owners will be fully aware of the consequences of their actions in continuing this obstruction,” Mastro commented regarding Adams’ executive order.
John Samuelsen, the president of the trade union representing carriage drivers, claimed their group had “nothing to hide” and would welcome a truly independent review from an equine veterinarian affiliated with a major university, arguing that city-vetted veterinarians held biases against the industry.
Kulikowski has been referred to as “our veterinarian” by Equine Advocates, an organization dedicated to horse protection and advocating for the ban on horse carriages.
City Hall informed the Post that Kulikowski was uniquely qualified to apply for the $20,000 contract back in November.
The health department is set to notify the owners of over 200 carriage horses by January 6 and will plan the testing accordingly.
The examinations are slated to commence in February, with the executive order stating that refusal to comply could lead to suspension or loss of licenses by the Ministry of Health.
Mastro indicated that the new mayor retains the ability to overturn the executive order, which means the incoming administration under Mamdani will ultimately decide how to move forward with this mandate.
Interestingly, at a news conference on Tuesday, Mamdani seemed to reassess his earlier views on the horse-drawn carriage industry.
Though he had initially voiced support for both banning the carriages and forming a commission to probe into the longstanding industry, he indicated on Tuesday that he “supports removing horse-drawn carriages from Central Park.”
“I’m going to make it happen,” he asserted.
