New York City Mayor Eric Adams has urged the City Council to pass “Ryder’s Law,” legislation aimed at phasing out the carriage horse industry in the city. The law, named after a horse that collapsed in 2022, would ban new carriage horse licenses and increase regulations on existing ones, effectively ending the industry. Adams emphasized that this move is about aligning traditions with modern values of animal welfare and public safety, especially following recent incidents including the death of a 15-year-old carriage horse named Lady. The Central Park Conservancy has also voiced support for the ban, citing concerns for visitor safety.

The carriage horse industry, represented by the Transport Workers Union Local 100, strongly opposes the proposed ban, with union leaders disputing claims of mistreatment and alleging ulterior motives related to real estate development on the site of the stables. Despite the controversy and the bill being before the council since 2022 without a vote, Adams has directed city agencies to prepare for a potential ban and tasked officials with seeking a “better path forward” through dialogue with advocates and industry stakeholders.