In August of 2022, a video went viral showing Ryder, an elderly and visibly emaciated horse pulling a horse-drawn carriage, collapsing from exhaustion on a sweltering day in Midtown Manhattan. Tragically, Ryder died, and years later we are still fighting for justice for New York’s carriage horses.

In New York’s carriage industry, horses face a lifetime of suffering. Cities, especially large metropolises like New York, are fundamentally incompatible with the needs of these large, sensitive animals. Dense traffic, constant noise, limited space, and hard asphalt put continuous strain on their bodies and nervous systems. While on the job, they cannot graze, are routinely exposed to exhaust fumes, and are made to work through extreme heat in the summer and bitter cold in the winter while pulling heavy loads.

These horses are treated as nothing more than tools for profit, rather than as sensitive individuals deserving of respect and care. Carriage drivers in New York have previously faced charges for forcing horses to work while sick or visibly injured, and city stables have been documented housing these animals in cramped, filthy stalls.

The risks associated with New York’s abusive carriage industry extend beyond harm to the horses. Countless incidents of horses becoming frightened and bolting into traffic have repeatedly put pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers in danger. There have been numerous cases in which people, including children, have been injured after being struck by runaway horses or carriages.

New Yorkers are tired of living with this stain on their city. Surveys show that 71% of New Yorkers want horse-drawn carriages banned, reflecting widespread recognition that this practice is both dangerous and outdated.

New York has the opportunity to join cities across the country, including Chicago, Salt Lake City, and Palm Beach, that have already banned this cruel practice by passing Ryder’s Law. Ryder’s Law, first introduced in 2022 by New York City Council Member Robert Holden of District 30, would ban horse-drawn carriages and mandate the humane retirement of the horses currently working in New York. The bill would prohibit selling New York’s carriage horses for slaughter or for use as carriage horses elsewhere, sparing them years of stress, fear, and suffering.

Take Action Now

We can help end the suffering of these horses. Join Species Unite in urging New York City Council Members to do the right thing by finally passing Ryder’s Law and giving these horses the lives they deserve.