On Sunday, August 4th, a carriage horse collapsed near Tavern on the Green in Central Park at 1:30pm. Worried onlookers observed the horse on the ground and struggling, still attached to the damaged carriage. The driver worked quickly to get the horse back up and fled without first conducting any medical checks on the horse. Horrified park-goers pleaded with the driver to check on the horse and unhitch her from the carriage as he fled the park. The alarming incident followed an earlier one that same day where a carriage horse escaped a stable at 11:30am and dangerously bolted through traffic on 10th Avenue before being re-captured.

“Another extremely hot day brought about two dangerous and horrifying carriage horse incidents,” said Edita Birnkrant, Executive Director of NYCLASS. “This should come as no surprise. Every summer we see horses either collapse, bolt through traffic, crash into cars, have respiratory issues, and struggle in the intense heat and humidity. These carriage horses are literally being worked to death and the City is not stepping up to protect these animal laborers. No wonder one horse sought to escape on Sunday. NYCLASS calls on the New York City Department of Health to  pursue an investigation of both issues and the condition of both horses immediately.”

If you live in New York City, please call your Councilmember and urge them to help the horses by signing on an passing Intro 1425, The Carriage Horse Heat Relief Bill.