Queens lawmaker renews push to ban horse-drawn carriages after horse's death

A city councilmember from Queens is demanding swift action to ban horse-drawn carriages in New York City after the sudden death of a carriage horse in Hell’s Kitchen on Tuesday.

Councilmember Robert Holden is calling on the City Council to finally hold a hearing on Ryder’s Law, legislation that would ban horse-drawn carriages in New York City, after a horse named Lady collapsed and died in Hell’s Kitchen this week.

“This is a barbaric, outdated industry that has no place in a modern city,” Holden said in a statement Wednesday. “The Council must hold a hearing, bring Ryder’s Law to the floor, and vote to end this industry once and for all.”

Ryder’s Law, named after another carriage horse that collapsed and later died in 2022, would ban horse-drawn carriages starting in 2026 and transition drivers into other jobs. The bill has 19 sponsors but has stalled without a hearing.

City Hall said it was reviewing Tuesday's incident and reiterated that it is committed to keeping New Yorkers and the city’s animals safe and healthy.

Holden pointed to polling that showed a large majority of New Yorkers already support ending the industry.

“Enough is enough,” he said. “Another horse is dead because our leaders refuse to appeal to their conscience and end this barbaric industry once and for all.”

Animal rights groups also renewed calls for action following Lady’s death, while union leaders representing carriage drivers continue to oppose an outright ban, favoring additional regulations instead.

“We are heartbroken and outraged by yet another horrific carriage horse collapse in Midtown, Manhattan," said Allie Taylor, president of Voters For Animal Rights. "Witnesses reported the horse collapsed, began shaking, and was then dragged into a trailer, presumably dead. No animal should suffer like this, especially not on our city streets in the middle of traffic and chaos."

This story has been updated to include comment from Allie Taylor, president of Voters For Animal Rights.