All In For Horse Welfare: NYC Conservation Groups, Animal Rights Activists, Curtis Sliwa, Mayor Adams All United Against Horse Drawn Carriage Industry: UPDATED
All In For Horse Welfare: NYC Conservation Groups, Animal Rights Activists, Curtis Sliwa, Mayor Adams All United Against Horse Drawn Carriage Industry
Here is our previous article earlier this year. The video below may be disturbing to watch for some viewers. It is a compilation of cell phone videos taken by New Yorkers of the grueling and horrifying cruel conditions the carriage owners force the horses in their care to work in. When they collapse from exhaustion, they’ve been seen to beat them to get them up. Horses are also a victim of New York’s horrible drivers, who have literally backed up onto them, injuring and sometimes killing them. At least one driver is shown backing up into horses causing them pain and possible injury:
The following is provided on background from a City Council staffer:
Our question was: Do you know if it is possible for there to be a City council vote on this law (or on any other law) prior to the election (November 4, 2025)?
The ball is in the Speakers court. She and health committee chair Lyn Schulman can schedule a hearing at any time.
Our follow up question was: Would the same apply to Intro 1096 (to cement retiree healthcare benefits at the level available to them as of 2021), or does that lack sufficient support to move forward before the election?
Speaker Adams has the power to do right on many things, but she chooses not to. Very unfortunate.
Even though the speaker is not running for re-election, there have been politicians in the past who have been leaving office and still continued to make a difference (we published a story about a pedestrian bridge that an outgoing assembly member kept tabs on for the multiple years it took to come to fruition: https://statenislander.org/2025/08/23/long-overdue-pedestrian-bridge-over-sheepshead-bay-renovated-fmr-nys-assemblyman-demonstrates-long-term-community-care/ ).
MAYOR ADAMS CALLS ON CITY COUNCIL TO BAN HORSE-DRAWN CARRIAGES, SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDER STRENGTHENING OVERSIGHT AND ENFORCEMENT OF INDUSTRY AND ENSURING CITY AGENCIES ARE PREPARING FOR EVENTUAL CITY COUNCIL BAN
NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced his support to end the use of horse-drawn carriages in Central Park. First, Mayor Adams called on the New York City Council to pass Ryder’s Law, legislation to phase out horse-drawn carriages and replace them with electric alternatives, which has languished in the Council for over a year. Additionally, Mayor Adams signed Executive Order 56 to prepare for the end of the horse carriage industry in New York, strengthen oversight and enforcement over the industry until the Council passes the bill, create a process for voluntary return of licenses, and identify new employment opportunities for those in this industry. Finally, Mayor Adams sent a letter of necessity to the City Council, which grants the Council the authority to expedite the passage of this legislation by waiving the aging period, and urges them to promptly pass comprehensive reform given safety concerns for everyday New Yorkers.
“New York City is a place where history and progress live side by side, but as long as I am mayor, we will always put public safety first. While horse-drawn carriages have long been an iconic fixture of Central Park, they are increasingly incompatible with the conditions of a modern, heavily-used urban green space. A series of incidents over the last few years have raised concerns about the welfare of the horses, as well as the safety of pedestrians, cyclists, drivers, and carriage operators themselves. To understand all points of view on this complex issue, our administration convened all stakeholders, from driver representatives to community advocates, and it has become abundantly clear that these horse-drawn carriages no longer work for our city. While many talk about change, our administration has always been about real, meaningful action — and this issue is no different. That’s why today, I’m calling on the City Council to do what they should have done long ago: end the horse carriage industry in New York City and help keep all New Yorkers — including our animals — safe,” said Mayor Adams.
“I’m also signing an executive order to ensure city agencies are doing everything in their power to prepare for a City Council ban on the horse carriage industry and to strengthen oversight and enforcement in the meantime. To be clear, we will not abandon the drivers themselves, who are honest, hard-working New Yorkers. Through today’s executive order, I have directed our agencies to identify new employment opportunities for those in this industry and create a process for voluntary return of licenses. We are also open to exploring a new program for electric carriages so New Yorkers and visitors can continue to enjoy the majesty of Central Park. Despite the changes we’re announcing today, we understand that this executive order can only go so far, as real, long-term change requires legislation. We need the Council to do their job, step up, and work with us on comprehensive reform. This is not about eliminating this tradition — it’s about honoring our traditions in a way that aligns with who we are today. New Yorkers care deeply about animals, about fairness, and about doing what’s right. The Adams administration hears those concerns loud and clear, and we’re taking action, but we need the Council to meet us at the table. We can preserve what makes New York unique while also ensuring we’re not leaving anyone — human or animal — behind.”
In the past few years, a number of troubling incidents have raised the alarm on this critical issue, including:
In August 2022, a carriage horse named Ryder fell and collapsed at the intersection of West 45th Street and 9th Avenue. The New York City Police Department intervened to help Ryder get back on his feet, and Ryder later died that October.
In response, advocates asked the City Council to pass Ryder’s Law, legislation to phase out horse-drawn carriages and replace them with electric alternatives.
Following this incident in 2022, 71 percent of New Yorkers supported a ban on horse carriage rides.
Just last month, another carriage horse named Lady collapsed and died at West 51st Street and 11th Avenue, bringing proposals for reform or closure of the carriage industry back into the spotlight.
This month also marked the third time this year alone where a carriage horse took off running in Central Park when a horse named Bambi ran out with no person at the reins, frightening visitors and causing three horse carriage passengers to jump out of the speeding buggy. Earlier this year, in May, a similar incident occurred when a pair of runaway carriage horses broke a driver’s wrist and injured others in Central Park after they bolted.
Sliwa Applauds City Backing of Ryder’s Law
NEW YORK, NY – September 17, 2025 – Curtis Sliwa, Republican and Independent Protect Animals candidate for mayor, issued the following statement today in response to the city’s support for Council Member Robert Holden’s Ryder’s Law:
“Today, for once, I agree with the mayor. I have long supported Council Member Robert Holden’s Ryder’s Law because it is past time to end the cruel and barbaric horse-carriage industry and move to humane alternatives. My wife Nancy and I stand ready to help in any way possible to get this finally done. City Council should bring Ryder’s Law to a vote immediately.”
Curtis Sliwa further released the following statement:
Sliwa Urges Vote on Ryder’s Law
Mayoral Candidate, First to Support Bill, Calls for End to Horse Carriage Era, Cites Compassion and Consensus
NEW YORK – Curtis Sliwa, candidate for Mayor of New York City and the first NYC Mayoral candidate to support Ryder’s Law, today urged City Council Speaker Adrienne E. Adams to bring Intro 967, Ryder’s Law, to a vote and pass it without delay.
In a letter to Ms. Adams, Sliwa highlighted a rare consensus among mayoral candidates and 70% of New Yorkers who support ending the horse carriage industry in favor of humane, modern alternatives.
“New Yorkers want a city that leads with compassion and common sense,” Sliwa said. “The horse carriage industry is a relic of another era, with well-documented risks to animals, public safety, and workers. We can do better.”
Sliwa called on Ms. Adams to schedule a vote as soon as possible.
Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, “The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated,” Sliwa urged the city to live up to this ideal.
Sliwa also urged the Council to “Do the right thing for animals and New Yorkers.”
PETA Statement: Mayor Adams Steps Up for Horses—Speaker Adams Must Follow
Below, please find a statement from PETA Director Ashley Byrne in response to Mayor Eric Adams’ signing today of Executive Order 56, which prepares for the end of the horse-drawn carriage industry, and his directive to the City Council to pass Ryder’s Law, the city’s horse-drawn carriage ban:
“The only people fighting for this dying industry are the horse-drawn carriage operators trying to make a buck off broken horses’ backs. Today, Mayor Adams heeded the cries from his constituency, the Central Park Conservancy, and every animal welfare group by calling for a ban on horse-drawn carriages. Now it’s time for Speaker Adrienne Adams to stop blocking this ban and get dangerous and cruel horse-drawn carriages off of New York City’s streets.”
Ryder’s Law, named after a horse who collapsed on New York City streets and later died, would replace horse-drawn carriages with eco-friendly electric vehicles. The proposal came after 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.
An updated statement from PETA after the announcement in support by all mayoral candidates:
“New York City’s four leading mayoral candidates disagree on plenty, but they’re all in agreement with the vast majority of New Yorkers who want beleaguered horses off city streets. PETA is calling on Speaker Adrienne Adams and the City Council to read the room, pass Ryder’s Law, and finally stop carriage operators from forcing skittish horses to pound the pavement until they collapse.”
Ryder’s Law, the city’s proposed horse-drawn carriage ban, was named after a horse who collapsed on New York City streets and later died. The proposal came after 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.
Note: PETA opposes all forms of animal exploitation and educates the public on those issues. PETA does not directly or indirectly participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office or any political party.
Below is a graphic of the statement by NYCLASS about the Mayor’s statement:
Banner Image: Ryder the horse being hosed off after overheating. Image Credit – NYCLASS
Staten Islander News Service Staff Writer
This byline indicates that this article was penned by a member/members of the Staten Islander News Organization office team. Our staff writers are the backbone of our newspaper, performing all sorts of important tasks like conducting interviews, investigating leads, besides writing the news stories you see.
I’m a native Staten Islander and I live in Westerleigh. I cal remember when we had a stable at the end of Stewart Avenue by Victory and there were horses going up and down Willowbrook Road all day. But then also there was still the Clove lakes stables and back then Clove Lakes and Clay Pit Ponds were crazy.
Young folks don’t remember that Clove lakes was once much bigger. Both the side with the Fountains buildings and the Staten Island Expressway and what’s now Deer Park were Clove Lakes Park. They even wanted to name the Staten Island Expressway the Clove Lakes Expressway because it went right though the hear to the park.
Clay Pit is now the Christmas Tree shop and stores.
Sad.
[…] 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 […]