A runaway horse-drawn carriage incident in Midtown Manhattan last week, where a startled horse crashed into several vehicles, has reignited calls to ban horse carriages in New York City. The incident, captured on video, occurred near Central Park and involved no reported injuries, but advocates like NYCLASS argue that such dangerous events are frequent and stem from the incompatibility of horses with busy city streets. They urge the stalled Ryder’s Law, which would phase out horse-drawn carriages, to be passed promptly to prevent further harm to horses, drivers, passengers, and pedestrians.

In response, the union representing carriage drivers, TWU Local 100, defended the current care standards for horses and emphasized the importance of protecting the jobs of predominantly immigrant drivers. They criticized efforts to ban horse carriages as longstanding special interest campaigns and called for collaboration to improve horse welfare without eliminating the industry. The debate highlights the tension between animal welfare concerns and the livelihoods of carriage drivers in New York City.