A Philadelphia woman was arrested Tuesday after allegedly confronting and assaulting two horse-carriage drivers in Central Park, according to police and union representatives. The incident unfolded near a carriage stand, where families were visiting.
Abigail Holbrook, 27, reportedly shouted that the horses were being abused and complained that city noise and bright lights were harmful to them. Video of the confrontation shows her using profanity and calling herself “Squid the Kid.”
The Transport Workers Union of America said Holbrook punched two drivers, both 45, and hit one in the head with a skateboard. The men suffered minor injuries and declined medical care at the scene. Holbrook was charged with two counts of assault.
Alexander Kemp, an administrative vice president with TWU Local 100, called the incident unacceptable and said carriage stands need a more visible police presence. Drivers should be able to work without being harassed or attacked, he said.
Christina Hansen, a union shop steward who witnessed the assault and contacted police, said she believes public rhetoric about the carriage trade contributes to hostility toward drivers. She argued that some animal-rights groups misrepresent how horses are treated, and noted that drivers depend on their horses being healthy enough to work.
The attack comes as the city’s carriage industry faces an uncertain future. Last month, the City Council voted 40–7 to pass Romanch’s Law, named for 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan, who died in June after being thrown from a runaway carriage in Central Park.
The law calls for horse-drawn carriages to be phased out by June 1, 2028, and for the city to create a transition program for more than 150 drivers and other industry workers.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals disputed the union’s criticism, saying the carriage industry should reflect on its own role in hostility and violence.
Horse-drawn carriages have operated in Central Park since it opened in 1858. Hansen said horses have been part of Manhattan’s history for centuries and remain closely tied to the character of the city and the park.
