Discussion on Horse-Drawn Carriage Ban Intensifies After Tragic Accident
The City Council is considering a ban on horse-drawn carriages following the unfortunate death of an 18-year-old Indian tourist in Central Park this week.
Some council members believe this incident—thought to be the first death of a passenger during a carriage ride in recent memory—could be the tipping point for an industry already facing numerous challenges.
“I think this might really be the straw that broke the camel’s back,” commented City Councilman Frank Morano, a Staten Island Republican and co-sponsor of the proposed Rider Act, which aims to outlaw horse-drawn carriages in New York City.
“An 18-year-old boy who came here to celebrate his graduation is now leaving in a casket. That’s just unacceptable,” Morano conveyed, referring to the tragic event.
He expressed that the perception of these accidents as isolated cases is outdated. “It’s clear this industry no longer holds significance,” he remarked.
Mayor Zoran Mamdani has voiced his support for the ban on horse-drawn carriage rides in Central Park, aligning with a promise he made during his campaign.
“I stand by my commitment to remove horse-drawn carriages from Central Park,” Mamdani stated back in January.
His predecessors, Eric Adams and Bill de Blasio, also expressed support for such a ban, but nothing concrete was enacted during their terms.
Opponents, including unions representing carriage drivers, note that they’ve heard similar discussions following past accidents. Yet, legislative progress seems to stall, claiming that horses are generally well-treated within the industry.
However, the current council is leaning more towards animal welfare. Recently, they established an Animal Welfare Caucus comprising 20 out of the 51 members, including Morano.
City Council President Julie Menin has scheduled a public hearing for next month regarding the Morano bill, named after Ryder, a carriage horse that tragically collapsed from heat exhaustion in August 2022. This legislation didn’t move forward last year.
“In the last two weeks, we’ve faced another heartbreaking incident—the death of Romansh Mahajan, a teenager who was riding a horse and carriage when a carriage horse named Deniz collapsed,” Menin pointed out, referring to an incident on June 9 where the horse may have ingested a poisonous plant.
Menin stressed the need for a balanced approach to animal welfare, public safety, and the economic well-being of workers. “This tragedy calls for urgent action from the City Council,” she asserted.
On the other hand, Democratic Rep. James Gennaro from Queens believes that this “unthinkable tragedy” was a result of human error rather than animal cruelty.
He opposes an outright ban and instead advocates for an alternative legislative proposal aimed at enhancing safety protocols, which includes installing hitch posts in Central Park for secure horse handling when passengers enter or exit vehicles.
The horse-drawn carriage industry is certainly feeling the pressure. Alexander Kemp, executive vice president of Transportation Workers Union Local 100, expressed devastation over the accident, stating, “We’ve never encountered a fatal incident like this before.”
Kemp showed support for Gennaro’s proposed bill while shutting down stables for discussions on improving safety protocols.
Carriage driver Christina Hansen criticized animal rights advocates for seemingly taking advantage of tragic events for political gain. “Let’s not rush to conclusions. It’s important to take a step back,” she urged.
