New York City Mayor Eric Adams has urged the City Council to pass legislation known as “Ryder’s Law” to phase out the carriage horse industry, citing concerns for animal welfare and public safety. The law, named after a horse that collapsed in 2022, would stop issuing new carriage horse licenses and increase regulations on existing ones, effectively ending the tradition. This call follows renewed controversy after a 15-year-old carriage horse named Lady died on a city street, prompting the Central Park Conservancy to support the ban as a public health and safety measure. Despite the push, the bill has been stalled since 2022 without a council vote.

The carriage horse industry, represented by the Transport Workers Union Local 100, strongly opposes the ban, with union leaders accusing Mayor Adams of dishonesty and claiming the horses are well cared for. They also allege that the ban is motivated by real estate development interests targeting the stables’ Midtown location. The debate continues amid efforts by city officials to engage stakeholders and find a compromise, but the future of New York’s iconic carriage horses remains uncertain.