N.Y.C. Horse-Drawn Carriage Crash Sparks Renewed Calls for Ban as 2 Operators Are Hospitalized

Two horse-drawn carriages collided in Central Park, hospitalizing both drivers and reigniting calls to ban the industry
Though the horses weren't seriously hurt, advocacy groups like NYCLASS are citing the crash as proof that the practice is unsafe and outdated
The crash follows a 2022 incident where a horse named Ryder collapsed in the street and later died, prompting a celebrity-backed petition to end carriage ridesA horse-drawn carriage collision is resurrecting a call to ban the transportation in N.Y.C.
On Monday, May 26, two horse-drawn carriages rammed into each other in front of the 60th Street & East Drive marker in Central Park in New York City, hospitalizing the two carriage operators.
According to a statement obtained by PEOPLE from the New York Police Department, one of the horses was startled and ran westbound towards 5th Avenue. The second horse was also startled and ran towards the northbound end of 60th Street.
Both carriage operators "sustained minor injuries in an attempt to regain control of the horses," per the statement. "EMS transported both individuals to area hospitals."
There are no reports on whether there were passengers in the carriages at the time of the incident. According to ABC News, the horses did not suffer any severe injuries and were back to work on the south end of Central Park later that evening.
Though many city visitors enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides in N.Y.C., animal advocacy groups such as NYCLASS are citing this incident to support a citywide ban on horse-drawn carriage rides.
Animal Legal Defense Fund, an organization that aims to enforce stronger anti-cruelty laws and the humane treatment of animals, has also led calls to end the use of horses in tourism work.
In 2022, the organization petitioned to ban horse-drawn carriages in N.Y.C. after an elderly horse named Ryder collapsed in the street due to the overwhelming summer heat. An unnerving video of the incident quickly circulated, leading the Animal League Defense Fund to send a petition and letter to the New York City Council.
'Tragic outcomes for horses haunt New York City's history, as well as other cities across the country,' read the letter. 'Horses, carriage passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, and others are put at risk by this cruel and reckless industry. We say: No more.'
Along with hundreds of others, the petition was also signed by notable names including Billie Eilish, her brother Finneas, Kaley Cuoco, Noah Cyrus, Joan Jett, Kesha, Joaquin Phoenix, Sarah Silverman, Christian Siriano, Hilary Swank, Justin Theroux, and Marisa Tomei.
Just two months after his collapse, Ryder died. He was roughly 30 years old.
"We are devastated to learn that Ryder has died. His horrific collapse, after years of abuse, inspired tens of thousands of people from across the globe to stand up to carriage horse industry cruelty," said Edita Birnkrant, executive director of New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets, at the time.
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"But make no mistake: this tragedy was not caused by an act of God — Ryder's death was the result of savage cruelty and greed. To make a profit, the horse carriage industry would have literally worked Ryder to death if it weren't for viral videos and the people who exposed their endless lies and cover-ups. Their mistreatment of Ryder is the reason he is dead two months later."
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That benefits Cuomo I'd assume. The other is they think everything is way too expensive. That helps Mamdani. But the thing I don't know how to account for is how the dissatisfaction with the Democratic party plays into this. Cuomo is not currently an incumbent but has all the vibes of an incumbent. He's part of the fabric of the party, a household name, a dynastic politician, etc. And it doesn't seem to be hurting him all that much. Reisman: Your point about the Democratic Party is an interesting one, Sally. Clearly the party's reputation is in tatters, even in deep blue New York. Cuomo represents an older, institutional Democratic Party. Coltin: Yep, that was AOC's big message at Mamdani's rally Saturday. Vote for change. Not 'the gerontocracy' who let Trump win in 2024. Gartland: The primary is still on. And we still have a general to get through. 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On the other hand, there is a very thin, almost non-existent path to victory for someone running only on the WFP line. Goldenberg: He's a good communicator when he's focused, which he's not at the moment. because he's too busy smoking cigars with someone named Sneako and kicking reporters out of press conferences.. Reisman: Watch for Adams to hammer Cuomo on the bail law and the other lefty criminal justice reforms he signed as governor. Goldenberg: But Eric Adams at his best is a strong communicator. Reisman: It's the best card he has to play against Cuomo running on a public safety platform Coltin: And the same thing goes for Cuomo, if he loses, deciding whether to run a real race on his 'Fight and Deliver' independent line. Many of the Orthodox Jewish and Black voters who are going with Cuomo in the primary could end up supporting Adams in the general. Not necessarily enough to win... but it's intriguing that Cuomo could lose some of his base between a primary and a general. Reisman: Jeff, that's right. Adams has his problems, but he may be able to steal some support back from Cuomo. Goldenberg: Adams has a money problem, but the bully pulpit is worth a lot. Lots of earned media there. (Money problem being he's not getting matching funds, which he's suing over.) Coltin: Speaking of money, if Mamdani does win the primary, I expect a Niagara Falls of money to be spent against him in a general that will make Fix the City look like a garden hose. Gartland: As discussed, Cuomo remains the clear favorite. If he ascends to City Hall, what kind of challenges and tripwires will he face? Some of course will be those any mayor faces. What challenges do you view as unique to him in that job? Mamdani, though, also clearly has a shot. What challenges do you view as unique to him if we were to make it into City Hall? Reisman: In the background for Cuomo is the Trump Department of Justice reportedly investigating him over Covid after House Republicans wrote in a referral he lied to them when he denied reading or editing a report on nursing home deaths. Cuomo has denied any wrongdoing and has said he's yet to be contacted. But if the Trump administration wants to put the screws to him, this could be a major storyline (and headache) for a Mayor Cuomo. Coltin: Another big challenge for Cuomo will be that the city is a creature of the state. Mayor is powerful but needs so much from the governor. He was in that top spot for 11 years. He would be in a position of begging for money from Kathy Hochul, his former lieutenant governor. Reisman: Andrew Cuomo is remarkably adept at finding leverage and using power. I can see Cuomo shaping events, finding allies in Albany and using that quite effectively to get what he needs. Coltin: For Mamdani, the Trump administration will also be a challenge. I can barely imagine what kind of thing Trump would post on Truth Social if a democratic socialist Muslim African immigrant wins the mayoralty. And then after posting, would he threaten to cut all funding from the city? Declare it an 'anarchist jurisdiction?' Gartland: On Mamdani, what kind of parochial concerns might he face? The New York Police Department at times posed serious challenges to de Blasio, and it doesn't seem outside the realm of possibility that a similar dynamic might materialize for the democratic socialist. How might that play out? Coltin: If he wins, Mamdani would also face a challenge of staffing up an administration. He would get a ton of interest from young leftists across the country, but he'll also want to convince experienced, less explicitly ideological New Yorkers to join the administration in top positions as well. Goldenberg: How he handles the NYPD is a very good question, one I don't know the answer to. I think the problem for Mamdani will be how he pays for all the things he's promised. I also wonder if he staffs up with former de Blasio people, Jeff. There seems to be a connection there. Reisman: Public safety fears are so baked into how voters feel about the city right now, I wonder if that along with affordability will be the defining problems for the next mayor to tackle. A big part of that is going to come with how the mayor works with the NYPD, whether Jessica Tisch (who has been praised by most of the candidates) is kept on as commissioner. Coltin: Yep, Mamdani has worked hard this campaign to avoid antagonizing the NYPD and cop unions, and as far as I can tell, it's worked. The PBA isn't endorsing in the primary. He's moved away from his former line of 'defund the police.' Gartland: Cuomo's national ambitions have also been a topic of conversation. Sally, this came up in an interview you had with the former governor recently. Based on what we've seen from Cuomo in the past and what he's said recently, what can we expect on that front? Coltin: I asked Cuomo Sunday if he'd run for president — like AOC said he would. He just laughed and said: 'Let's talk about the mayor's race.' Of course, his campaign followed up afterward and reminded us of his previous comment, that the only thing that would keep him from serving two terms as mayor is death. Reisman: There's a 30,000-foot way of looking at the national ambitions Andrew Cuomo. It's a melodrama that starts with Mario Cuomo, his late father, who was seen as a liberal voice in the Reagan era. Mario famously had a plane ready to take him to New Hampshire in 1992 to run for president but he never took it. Andrew Cuomo has not so quietly measured his own career against his father's. He's now on the cusp of winning a job his father failed to get.