Carriage Horse Tragically Dies in Central Park, Intensifying Calls for Ban

A carriage horse named Deniz collapsed and died suddenly in Central Park on Tuesday, leading to renewed calls for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to abolish carriage horses in the city. Carriage rides have been a significant feature of Central Park for many years, yet the treatment of these horses has faced intense scrutiny. There have been claims of mistreatment against drivers, and legislation called Ryder’s Law was introduced to ban horse carriages and replace them with electric ones after a horse collapsed and later died in 2022. However, the proposal was defeated by the City Council. Mamdani has expressed support for eliminating carriages, but he has stated his actions are limited due to the legislative process.

What Happened to Deniz the Horse

Instagram user Lenny Bruce shared a video showing Deniz on his side, still connected to the carriage, as bystanders attempted to free him by removing his harness while the horse struggled and moaned. The incident took place around 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

“In two seconds, the horse died. He just shook, and I thought he was going to pee; then he just died,” stated Nurettin Kirbiyik, the carriage driver, to CBS News. “It feels like losing a family member.”

A heat advisory was issued for New York City on Tuesday and was in effect until Thursday evening. The cause of Deniz’s death remains unclear, and a necropsy will be conducted to ascertain the cause.

“Deniz, aged 16, was a beautiful and beloved horse, cherished by his caretakers. The NYPD Mounted Unit’s veterinarian last examined Deniz in March and found him fit,” said Eric Loegel with TWU Local 100 to Newsweek. “It is unfortunate that domesticated animals, like horses, can experience sudden health events.”

Bruce, known for advocating animal rights on Instagram, recounted that Deniz was pulling a carriage uphill with tourists in Central Park before his death.

“Deniz is the second carriage horse to collapse in NYC this year and reflects the long history of many incidents since the 1800s,” Bruce said.

Pressure on Mayor Zohran Mamdani

The video of the incident on social media brought in calls for Mayor Mamdani to enforce a ban on carriage rides. Many social media users tagged Mamdani, demanding action and an investigation.

“Look at this horse’s face. He died while suffering and being abused. This isn’t the image NYC should have,” commented Corinne Fisher, a former mayoral candidate. “Mamdani, please put an end to this. The people of NYC will support you on this matter.”

Mamdani has pledged his support to remove horse-drawn carriages from Central Park, indicating plans to deliver on his promise. However, he also emphasized that the passage of such legislation is the responsibility of the City Council. Newsweek contacted Mamdani’s office for comments but did not receive a response before publication.

Understanding Ryder’s Law

Proposed in 2022, Ryder’s Law emerged after a horse in Chelsea collapsed from heat exhaustion and died days later, igniting outrage among animal rights advocates. The proposal aimed to replace horse-drawn carriages with electric ones.

“Horses have collapsed and died recently. Several have caused dangerous runaway incidents, involved in crashes that injured New Yorkers,” stated NYCLASS in November.

That same month, the City Council’s Committee on Health decided against advancing the proposal for full council consideration. Former Mayor Eric Adams criticized this decision, arguing that it disregarded the majority’s preference to ban the carriages. Adams condemned horse-drawn carriages for endangering both animals and people.

Despite this, the carriage drivers’ union praised the decision, arguing that these immigrants care well for their horses and face attacks from those unconcerned with animal welfare.

Carriage Horse Incidents

In recent weeks, Central Park has witnessed unfortunate incidents. A few weeks prior to Deniz’s death, two horses collided. In May, another carriage overturned after an incident between two horses, Otis and Troy. During the accident, Troy attempted to move quickly and collided with another carriage, leading to injuries for the driver who was hospitalized.

In August, another horse named Lady collapsed and died in Hell’s Kitchen while pulling a carriage. Lady was 15 years old and relatively new to the city.

In response to Deniz’s death, Christina Hansen, a TWU Local 100 representative, contested claims that horses are overworked, insisting their duties are manageable.

“People misconstrue the work horses do. It’s not overly strenuous; these horses literally stroll through the park,” she stated.