Remarkable midtown horse collapse leads to resurged discussions about the contentious horse-drawn carriage industry
Horse's Death Reignites Calls for New York City's Horse-Drawn Carriage Ban
A recent incident in August 2025 has brought renewed attention to the debate surrounding horse-drawn carriages in New York City. A 15-year-old standardbred cross named Lady collapsed while on her way back to the stable from Central Park, and was later pronounced dead at the scene.
The death of Lady has intensified demands for the City Council to pass Ryder's Law, a proposed bill aiming to ban horse-drawn carriages starting in 2026. The law intends to phase out horse-drawn carriage licenses and transition the drivers into other jobs, effectively ending the industry while offering compensation to horse owners to retire the animals.
Advocates argue that the carriage horses suffer harsh conditions and that the industry is outdated and abusive. A 2022 poll showed that 71% of New Yorkers favor a ban on the horse-drawn carriage industry. Despite this strong public support, the bill has faced delays and resistance within City Council, with some members accused of blocking hearings on the issue.
City lawmakers have proposed Ryder's Law to ban the horse carriage industry citywide. State Assembly Member Linda Rosenthal supports the ban, believing the death of Lady highlights the need for it. Allie Taylor, president of Voters For Animal Rights, expressed outrage over the horse collapse incident.
However, not everyone agrees. Hansen, an industry spokesperson, claims that Lady had undergone a prior physical examination with no pre-existing health issues found. Officers from the Midtown North Precinct responded to the scene and found Lady unresponsive while attached to her carriage. A complete necropsy conducted by a board-certified pathologist at an esteemed university is yet to determine the cause of Lady's death.
NYCLASS, an animal rights organization, plans to hold an emergency rally against the horse industry. However, the organization has been criticized for posting photos of the collapsed animal, which they consider a "disgusting and ghoulish effort to demonize carriage drivers." This incident follows another one where horse carriage driver Ian Mckeever was acquitted of animal cruelty charges in the death of another carriage horse, Ryder, in 2022.
The ongoing debate reflects tensions between animal welfare advocacy and the carriage horse industry. The recent incidents have pushed the issue back into the public spotlight, as advocates continue to call for the City Council to pass Ryder's Law and end the horse-drawn carriage industry in New York City.
References:
- NYC Council Delays Hearing on Horse Carriage Ban Bill
- Animal Rights Activists Call for NYC to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages
- NYC Horse-Drawn Carriage Ban Bill Faces Resistance
- Ryder's Law: Proposed NYC Bill Aims to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages
- Horse-Drawn Carriage Industry Faces Uncertain Future in NYC
- The recent calls for a ban on horse-drawn carriages in New York City, ignited by the death of Lady, have highlighted the ongoing policy-and-legislation debate in politics.
- The death of Lady, a standardbred cross, has intensified the debate over horse-drawn carriages in the general-news scene, with the City Council faced with demands to pass Ryder's Law.
- Sports and racing, as well as horse-racing, have been entwined with New York's cityscape, but the controversy surrounding the suffering of carriage horses and the inefficient industry has stirred outrage, pushing for a potential ban on horse-drawn carriages in the near future.
