City Councilmember Robert Holden mounted a last-ditch effort to rid the city of the carriage horse trade — a long time goal of the Queens lawmaker during his final weeks in office — but he was denied by his Council colleagues.
Holden’s bill would have banned horse-drawn carriages from Central Park and stop any new licenses for the carriages which critics say exposes the horses to inhumane conditions. The bill also required the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to relocate workers in this industry to other employment.
“Manhattan is no place for horses. Horses need corrals, fields to run in, and to be with other horses. They’re prey animals, when they’re startled, they run,” Holden said. “That’s already happened twice this year in Central Park, and people had to jump off the carriages to avoid getting hurt.”
Holden had no support from Council leadership to bring the bill for a vote, but invoked a procedural rule that allows primary sponsors of bills to force a committee vote. The health committee, which had jurisdiction over the measure, voted it down during a hearing Friday morning, with 4 'no' votes, 1 'yes' vote and 2 abstentions.
In July, a horse-carriage driver was acquitted of animal abuse charges after his horse, Ryder, collapsed on the street and was later euthanized.
In August, a horse named Lady collapsed and died in Hell’s Kitchen.
Holden said the incidents demonstrate the dangers of keeping horses in extreme urban conditions.
“You have heat radiating from the buildings, traffic, pollution, it’s not healthy for anyone, especially horses,” he said.
Alexander Kemp, an executive with TWU Local 100, which represents the carriage drivers, said the political strategy behind Holden’s effort overlooks the real-world impact on workers. Kemp also raised questions about how the bill was developed, claiming it involves parties interested in redeveloping the properties where the horse stables are currently located.
“[Holden] is using lies and scare tactics to pressure people into supporting a measure whose full consequences they don’t understand,” he said. “He’s using the horses as a guise to advance the interests of billionaire land developers who want to build on the stable properties.”
Mayor Eric Adams chided the Council committee for siding with the union on Friday's vote.
"The vast majority of New Yorkers — regardless of party or belief — agree that it's time we ban horse carriages now to keep our city safe, clean, and strong," the mayor said on X. "It's a shame that the City Council has once again refused to follow the will of our citizens, while simultaneously endangering pedestrians, drivers, and animals alike."
This story has been updated to reflect the committee vote Friday and Mayor Eric Adams' reaction.
