A criminal trial is underway in Manhattan against Ian McKeever, a 56-year-old NYC carriage driver accused of animal cruelty for overworking a 26-year-old horse named Ryder. On August 22, 2022, McKeever allegedly forced Ryder to pull a carriage for over seven hours in 84-degree heat until the horse collapsed on a busy street. Eyewitnesses described Ryder struggling and unable to stand despite efforts to cool him down. A veterinarian later diagnosed Ryder with heart disease and other serious conditions, concluding he should not have been working. Ryder was euthanized in October 2022.

The case has reignited calls to ban horse-drawn carriages in New York City, with animal rights advocates pushing for legislation now called “Ryder’s Law” to phase out the practice. McKeever’s defense denies he overworked Ryder, but if convicted, he faces up to one year in jail, fines, or community service. Ryder’s tragic death has become a rallying point for efforts to protect working horses in the city.