Horses have been a part of the material of New York Metropolis for hundreds of years. First delivered to the town by European colonial settlers, they have been as soon as important for all the things from transportation to supply companies to firefighting. As we speak, automobiles and vans carry out all of those capabilities. However horses nonetheless stroll the streets of New York—now largely pulling carriages stuffed with vacationers in and round Central Park.
Many individuals consider it’s time for that custom to finish. New mayor Zohran Mamdani is amongst them. Even earlier than he was elected in November 2025, Mamdani expressed help for a ban on horse-drawn carriages within the metropolis. Simply earlier than formally taking workplace in December, he doubled down on that place. “I help eradicating horse carriages from Central Park,” he mentioned. “I intend to ship on that.”
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German singer-songwriter Kim Petras can be on board with Mamdani’s mission and has even promised to privately ship the brand new mayor a replica of her new album if he manages to get horse carriages banned from Central Park. Whereas the supply could seem uncommon, it has context: it adopted Mamdani’s revelation to Interview Journal in December that he’s a fan of Petras’ music (he additionally likes Madonna and Lil Wayne, for the document).
Mamdani and Petras are removed from alone. Activists, celebrities (together with Billie Eilish, Joaquin Phoenix, and Bella Hadid), and politicians have been pushing to ban horse-drawn carriages in New York Metropolis for years.
The continuing marketing campaign to ban horse-drawn carriages in New York Metropolis
In 2024, Council Member Robert Holden of District 30 launched Ryder’s Regulation. The proposed laws—named after Ryder, a horse who collapsed in Manhattan in 2022—aimed to ban horse-drawn carriages in Central Park by June 2026. Finally, the invoice stalled and failed in committee in November 2025.
Nonetheless, Mamdani’s pledge has renewed hope amongst advocates {that a} ban might lastly be inside attain. “We completely anticipate Mayor-elect Mamdani to maintain his promise,” Edita Birnkrant, govt director of New Yorkers for Clear, Livable, and Protected Streets (NYCLASS), advised CBS Information.
NYCLASS is an animal rights nonprofit devoted to ending the usage of horse-drawn carriages in New York Metropolis. The group argues that the trade is outdated, harmful, and inhumane, alleging that horses are overworked, denied ample veterinary care, and confined to small, unsanitary stalls when they don’t seem to be working.
NYCLASS
In 2019, NYCLASS efficiently backed the Carriage Horse Warmth Reduction Invoice, which successfully prohibits drivers from forcing carriage horses to work in excessive summer time temperatures.
Whereas Ryder’s Regulation did not advance, the motion has made incremental progress in latest months. Earlier than leaving workplace, former mayor Eric Adams issued an govt order requiring all carriage horses to be inspected by a city-approved veterinarian.
Now, NYCLASS is campaigning for a listening to on Ryder’s Regulation. With a newly elected mayor publicly dedicated to ending the follow, advocates consider New York Metropolis could lastly be on the verge of leaving carriage horses previously.
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and author primarily based in sunny Southsea on England’s southern coast.
