Central Park Carriage Drivers Resist Horse Testing
Horse-drawn carriage drivers in Central Park are pushing back against the city’s plans to test their horses for drugs, injuries, or signs of abuse. Authorities are now threatening lawsuits and potential closures if compliance doesn’t improve.
Recently, a veterinarian, contracted by the mayor’s office to carry out a groundbreaking independent assessment, was denied access to examine over a dozen horses in three different stables without a clear explanation, according to Randy Mastro, the mayor’s chief of staff.
The proposed “standard general equine examination” would include a trot test to check for lameness and blood tests for substances like painkillers. Mastro expressed concern about a perceived industry-wide effort to obstruct independent evaluations, labeling the denials as “unlawful” and troubling.
“This should be standard practice. If there’s nothing hidden, why are pet owners refusing these basic tests?” he questioned.
According to Mastro, discussions are underway within Mayor Adams’ administration about how to enforce testing requirements. Possible actions could involve court-ordered inspections, revoking individual licenses, or even a temporary shutdown of the carriage industry in the borough until the inspections are fulfilled.
John Samuelsen, president of the carriage drivers’ union, insisted that the drivers have “nothing to hide” and welcome a truly independent review by a veterinarian connected to a reputable university. He’s skeptical about the city-employed vet, believing he holds biases against their profession.
In a somewhat humorous retort to the threats of legal action, Samuelsen suggested that perhaps Mastro needed testing himself, humorously implying that he might be under some influence.
Another union official echoed readiness for oversight from legitimate experts, asserting, “We have nothing to hide and look forward to cooperating.”
The veterinarian, Dr. Craig Kulikowski, has reportedly been labeled “our veterinarian” by a nonprofit opposing horse-drawn carriages. City officials claim Kulikowski is the only appropriately qualified individual who applied for the $20,000 contract during the application period last November.
In the five boroughs, there are around 200 carriage horses, all of which already receive health assessments from private veterinarians every six months, as noted by officials. However, Mastro, previously affiliated with an anti-horse-drawn carriage advocacy group, stated that no independent scrutiny has been conducted up until now.
Kulikowski managed to make preliminary observations of several horses and discovered concerning signs, including scars that point toward inadequate equipment usage. Mastro added that there are indicators of abuse, with Kulikowski recommending some horses undergo blood tests and trot retests—requests that have largely been ignored by owners.
One horse that faced suspension was later assessed by another veterinarian the following day and deemed “fit to continue,” according to Samuelsen. He explained that many carriage horses originate from Amish regions where they work hard and may have accidents in stables.
Mastro pointed out that Kulikowski’s engagement follows incidents involving runaway carriage horses in Central Park this summer, which raised public safety concerns.
This past summer, Mayor Adams took a firm stance against the carriage industry, suggesting it is an outdated aspect of New York that “no longer serves our city.” Meanwhile, Mayor-elect Zoran Mamdani, set to assume office on January 1, has shown support for both banning horse-drawn carriages and initiating an investigation into this longstanding industry.
