NYC Kids Summer Camp Wins PETA’s Hero To Horses Award For Protest Against Horse-Drawn Carriage Cruelty

Editor’s note: There is a law, which we covered a short time ago, that would ban horse-drawn carriages on the streets of New York City.  The law is getting a recent push from the Mayor’s office, before his departure as mayor.  In addition, at this point, the law has much more support than recently, including 75% of Council Members speaking out in support of it.  NYCLASS has released video footage of some of the abuse these horses undergo.  In addition, horses are easily spooked and being around cars is frightening to them.  There were even drivers in the video (below) who backed up onto a horse hitched to his carriage who could not get away.  PETA and Curtis Sliwa have also been calling for an end to this industry.  However, the union representing carriage horse owners stands in opposition to the passage of this bill, and Council Speaker Adams has not set a hearing or called for a vote on the issue.  This prevents it from moving forward.  Movie actor Liam Neeson has been an outspoken supporter of the horse-drawn carriage industry, insisting that many of the owners are Irish, they care for the animals well in state-of-the-art stables, and that some of those opposed are themselves real estate developers interested in replacing the stables with high-rise apartment buildings.  There are many videos taken by tourists and residents of the abuse of the horses as they are working, along with their incompatibility with the increasing level of traffic in Central Park.  

Children’s Summer Camp Wins PETA Kids Award for Powerful Protest Against Horse-Drawn Cruelty

New York — A Hero to Horses Award is on its way from PETA Kids—part of PETA’s youth division—to Down to Earth Summer Camp in Astoria, Queens, whose campers, ages 7 to 11, hoofed it to Central Park twice this summer to rally support for Ryder’s Law, which would ban horse-drawn carriages in the city and recently received the support of Mayor Eric Adams. Lined up along the park’s path, the small but mighty animal defenders waved handmade signs and chanted, “Free the Horses!” at passing carriages, forcing riders to think twice about using horses to pull them through the park. The summer camp’s director, Rachel Sardina, as well as two children who protested in Central Park, are available for interviews. Video is here.

New York — A Hero to Horses Award is on its way from PETA Kids—part of PETA’s youth division—to Down to Earth Summer Camp in Astoria, Queens, whose campers, ages 7 to 11, hoofed it to Central Park twice this summer to rally support for Ryder’s Law, which would ban horse-drawn carriages in the city and recently received the support of Mayor Eric Adams. Lined up along the park’s path, the small but mighty animal defenders waved handmade signs and chanted, “Free the Horses!” at passing carriages, forcing riders to think twice about using horses to pull them through the park. The summer camp’s director, Rachel Sardina, as well as two children who protested in Central Park, are available for interviews. Video below:

“Horses have heroes at Down to Earth Astoria Summer Camp, where compassionate kids are proving that even the youngest voices can speak volumes against cruelty by confronting the carriage industry head-on,” says PETA Senior Vice President Colleen O’Brien. “These kids are now seeing the fruits of their labor, and PETA Kids salutes them for setting a shining example for young people by standing up for animals in need.”

Last week, Mayor Adams called on the City Council to pass Ryder’s Law, which  was named after a horse who collapsed on New York City streets and later died. Video footage of Ryder lying on Ninth Avenue went viral, and reports that his driver slapped him, whipped him, and screamed at him to get up sparked outrage.

Summer camp kids protest. Image Credit – PETA

Summer camp kids protest. Image Credit – PETA

Banner Image: Hero to Horses award. Image Credit – PETA