NYC Council Rejects Ryder’s Law Despite 80% Of New Yorkers In Support Of Banning Carriages

Ryder’s Law, a critical bill that would have finally begun phasing out New York City’s notorious horse-drawn carriage industry, will sadly not be moving forward. On Friday morning, the New York City Council Committee on Health voted down the bill, despite overwhelming public support. Polls have consistently shown that nearly 80% of New Yorkers want to ban horse carriages entirely, yet their voices were ignored to sustain an industry that consistently puts horses at risk.

The bill was named after Ryder, the abused, elderly horse who collapsed in Hell’s Kitchen in 2022 and later died after shocking neglect. His story sparked global outrage, but even his tragic death was not enough to move city leaders toward compassion.

Intro 967 would have halted new carriage licenses, protected horses from being shipped to slaughter, and created a workforce development program to help drivers transition into alternative employment. The bill even offered a humane path forward with electric carriages, a solution that preserved jobs while ending cruelty. But carriage owners refused to consider it, blocking the very compromise that could have modernized the industry without sacrificing animals.

Instead, the horses remain trapped in an outdated and dangerous system. Day after day, they are forced to haul heavy carriages through extreme heat waves, blizzards, and chaotic traffic, only to return to dark, cramped stalls hidden inside private Manhattan stables. These facilities, including the one where Ryder lived, have repeatedly been exposed for keeping thin, overworked horses in filthy, restrictive, and inhumane conditions.

“Our commitment to the horses and all animals remains unwavering. Our goal is to work collaboratively with city leaders, union representatives, advocates, and community members to advance thoughtful solutions that protect horses and support workers through a fair and just transition,” shared Voters for Animal Rights on social media. “Ryder’s story made clear that the current system must evolve. Horses deserve better than being worked to exhaustion in extreme weather, traffic, and noise. Compassion will ultimately prevail – and we will be here until it does.”

Last year, WAN traveled to New York City to meet with NYCLASS and witnessed these harsh realities firsthand. Wedged between dense Midtown buildings, the stables offered no pasture, no fresh air, and no real rest, only the constant noise, confinement, and stress of city life.

Just last month, Lady, a 15-year-old carriage horse, collapsed and died in Hell’s Kitchen while returning to her stable. Footage shared by Voters For Animal Rights captured her final moments, another gut-wrenching reminder of the devastating cost of inaction.

“For three years, New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Health Committee Chair Lynn Schulman have blocked any public hearing on Ryder’s Law — despite a super-majority of polled New Yorkers supporting the bill, more than 20 cosponsors, strong backing from equine experts, and even the Central Park Conservancy urging immediate action,” shared NYCLASS on twitter. “Today’s sham meeting only occurred because Council Member Robert Holden had to use a rarely invoked rule to force the committee to convene after the bill had been deliberately stalled. His action exposed this corrupt situation fully and unmistakably to the public.”

“Our resolve is unbreakable. NYCLASS will continue fighting — relentlessly and unapologetically — until the cruelty ends, and New York City finally joins the many cities worldwide that have already moved beyond horse-drawn carriages,” said NYCLASS.

How many more horses must collapse, suffer, or die before New York City ends this cruel, outdated industry? How many tragedies must be filmed, shared, and mourned before leaders listen not only to advocates but to the overwhelming majority of New Yorkers who are demanding change?

With Ryder’s Law defeated, more horses will now be forced to endure neglect, exploitation, and preventable suffering. We will not stop until horse-drawn carriages are completely banned in New York City.