A week after a carriage horse collapsed and died at a Manhattan intersection, the Central Park Conservancy — stewards of New York City’s iconic park — voiced its support for a citywide ban on horse-drawn carriages, according to CBS News.
The group has endorsed Ryder’s Law, named after a sick senior horse who collapsed on a New York City street and was subsequently euthanized almost three years ago. If passed, the legislation would not only prohibit horse-drawn carriages in the city but also support industry workers in securing new jobs.
“Simply put, this practice is no longer compatible with the realities of a modern, heavily used, and shared public space,” Central Park Conservancy President and CEO Elizabeth Smith stated. “We believe it’s time to turn the page, as most major cities already have.”
The primary issue expressed by the organization was the health and safety of the visitors to the increasingly crowded park. To illustrate this point, it referenced two recent incidents: one involving a startled horse who got loose and ran through the park, and another in which two escaped horses smashed into stationary pedicabs, leaving a driver with a broken wrist.
It also raised concerns about the damage to park roadways from the carriages, drivers neglecting to remove horse waste, and a disregard for no-parking signs.
Lady Freethinker is grateful to the Central Park Conservancy for taking a stand to protect both people and animals, and we echo their call for New York City to retire horse-drawn carriages once and for all. If you haven’t already, please take a moment to sign our petition supporting Ryder’s Law.
