A rally took place on the steps of City Hall on Wednesday, drawing attention to Ryder’s Law, a proposed bill aimed at ending the horse-drawn carriage industry in New York City. Organizers, including Queens NYC Council Member Robert Holden and the animal protection group NYCLASS, led the event advocating for the council to pass the bill.
Participants held signs with messages like “End horse abuse” and chanted “Pass Ryder’s Law” as they called for a ban on the horse-drawn carriages that have long been a fixture in Central Park.
The momentum for the rally has intensified following the recent acquittal of a carriage driver in a case of animal abuse. A jury found the driver not guilty on July 21 after being charged in 2023 with abusing a horse named Ryder, who suffered from health issues and eventually collapsed while working.
Council Member Holden expressed his disbelief over the case, stating, “The fact that a visibly sick horse like Ryder was allowed to work at all is unbelievable and inexcusable.” He emphasized that this case highlights serious deficiencies in current regulations meant to protect the horses.
Holden particularly criticized the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) for failing in their oversight of the carriage industry, noting that they “fell asleep at the wheel” regarding animal welfare. These comments came on the heels of a juror from the horse abuse trial pointing to the health department’s inadequacies during an interview with NYCLASS.
The juror remarked, “I do feel that the Department of Health should have been on trial, because they are the ones who are in control.” Edita Birnkrant from NYCLASS echoed these sentiments, suggesting that the legal outcome represented a significant failure by the city.
“This wasn’t just abuse of a cancer-ridden, elderly, sick horse who was worked to the point of collapse and death,” she stated. “It was criminal abuse, and the city signed off on it.”
Multiple agencies regulate the horse-drawn carriage industry in NYC, including the DOHMH. In a statement to amNewYork, the department acknowledged receiving inaccurate information regarding Ryder and mentioned issuing fines to the horse’s owner.
The statement noted that the department had been misled about Ryder’s age, resulting in summonses that carried civil penalties of $1,000 each. They stated, “A veterinarian is required to certify that a horse is fit to work, and they now need to indicate that an age assessment has been conducted when they submit the Rental Horse Certificate of Health to the Health Department.”
Council Member Erik Bottcher, representing Hell’s Kitchen where Ryder collapsed, also voiced his disappointment in the verdict. He emphasized that the city bears responsibility for the unfortunate incident.
“It was the city of New York that contributed to Ryder’s death,” Bottcher asserted. “We’re all responsible for what happened.” He pointed to the collective horror of onlookers during Ryder’s collapse and the renewed push to end the horse carriage trade that emerged in its wake.
Despite this momentum, Bottcher highlighted the slow progress of Ryder’s Law, stating that the bill has yet to pass or even receive a hearing.
In contrast, voices from within the industry argue against such a ban. Christina Hansen, a carriage-horse driver and union representative, asserted that a ban would jeopardize the welfare of the horses and the livelihoods of those in the trade.
Hansen characterized the proposed legislation as “ill-advised and unwanted,” warning that it could lead to many drivers losing their jobs while endangering the horses. She stated, “Thousands of horses are slaughtered every year because they do not have owners to feed them, shelter them, and provide medical care.”
Despite the rally’s evidence to the contrary, Hansen claimed that the union’s horses are well cared for and have “good homes” throughout the city. “While the activists seek to destroy, we continue to make our industry ever better,” she added, citing recent improvements in oversight and care, including additional water troughs in Central Park.
She concluded that the union is committed to ongoing enhancements, such as installing further safety measures like hitching posts in the park to prevent horses from running off.
The clash between advocates for animal rights and those who work within the horse-drawn carriage industry showcases the ongoing debate around animal welfare and the future of this longstanding New York City tradition.
image source from：amny
