A group of tourists in Central Park experienced a chaotic moment when a horse jumped unexpectedly from a moving buggy. This surprising event unfolded Monday morning and was captured in a video that made its way onto social media.
The footage on TikTok revealed that one rider fell while another hastily exited the moving vehicle as the horse bolted through the park.
According to animal rights organization Nyclass, the carriage driver was thrown off balance while attempting to regain control of the frightened horse. The wild gallop finally came to a halt about five blocks later when the horse collided with a parked carriage near the Bethesda Fountain.
Emergency services quickly arrived at the scene, but details on injuries to the involved parties and the horse were not clear by Monday afternoon.
The startled animal’s flee from 68th Avenue, heading towards the Bethesda Fountain at approximately 11:10 AM, was described as “terrifying.” It crashed into various metal signs and trash cans along the way, forcing numerous pedestrians to dodge out of its path.
Daniel Chin, a 31-year-old from Manhattan, expressed his concern about the unpredictability of such an incident, remarking that the horse could have trampled anyone nearby. He was, however, relieved that the horse seemed to navigate the park’s loop rather than running into crowded areas.
This incident surfaced shortly after the Central Park Conservancy publicly opposed the long-standing practice of using horse-drawn carriages in the park.
A spokesperson from the conservancy noted that the event underscores prevalent worries regarding the risks posed by horses amidst the park’s increasing visitor numbers.
Edita Birnkrant, executive director of Nyclass, highlighted that this was the fourth incident involving a loose carriage horse this summer alone.
Birnkrant emphasized the ongoing risks, stating that as long as the horse-drawn carriages operate, neither the animals nor the public can be ensured safety from potential harm.
Despite efforts to gather comments from representatives of the carriage union, no responses were received immediately.
Chin reflected on the near-miss, pondering the danger posed if there had been pedestrians present at that intersection. He questioned the continuation of such practices until actual harm occurs.
