Target: Adrienne Adams, Speaker of the New York City Council, New York, New York.
Goal: Enact a full, permanent ban on horse-drawn carriages and impose maximum penalties, including license revocations, for any operators who allegedly overwork, neglect, or otherwise mistreat horses and endanger the public.
Witness accounts and news reports describe a pattern of danger and distress: a carriage horse collapsed and died near its stable, a spooked horse ran loose through crowded park paths, and two more broke free and crashed into parked pedicabs, injuring a driver. These incidents, as reported, show how prey animals forced into dense traffic and heavy tourism can be put in situations where fear and apparent exhaustion end in chaos and suffering.
Advocates further allege that some operators flaunt rules intended to protect both animals and people—pushing horses in intense heat, navigating congested lanes, and leaving animals to toil amid constant horns, sirens, and crowds. Even with existing temperature and work limits, recent episodes have reportedly continued, suggesting that enforcement alone cannot fix a system that apparently places large, easily startled animals inches from bikes, strollers, and pedestrians.
A modern city should not rely on a 19th-century practice that, as reported, repeatedly risks animal welfare and public safety. Sign below to demand the City Council pass legislation to end horse-drawn carriage rides, create a humane job transition (such as licensed electric carriages), and direct immediate, unannounced inspections with maximum allowable penalties—including license suspensions and revocations—for any operators allegedly violating animal-care or safety laws.
PETITION LETTER:
Speaker Adams,
Recent accounts detail deeply troubling events involving carriage horses—one reportedly collapsed and died near a stable, while others allegedly bolted and crashed into pedicabs, injuring a driver. Additional reports indicate horses have run loose through busy park drives, underscoring the inherent risk of forcing prey animals to operate in dense, unpredictable urban environments.
We respectfully urge the Council to move legislation that permanently bans horse-drawn carriages and replaces them with humane, modern alternatives that keep workers employed without compelling animals to endure reportedly hazardous and exhausting conditions. In the interim, we ask you to champion immediate measures: direct unannounced, frequent inspections; mandate public reporting of heat-index closures and veterinary checks; and require strict enforcement by the licensing authorities, with maximum fines, suspensions, and revocations for any operator allegedly overworking, neglecting, or otherwise mistreating horses, or reportedly endangering the public.
New York can lead with compassion and common sense. Please act now to end a practice that, as reported, places animals and people at unacceptable risk, and to ensure meaningful accountability wherever violations are alleged.
Sincerely,
[Your Name Here]
Photo credit: Shadow Ayush
Why is this still even a thing, why aren’t people with the power standing up for animals? This is outrageous and any community who continues this industry should be sued and globally shamed. And prosecuted for animal abuse. Enough treating animals like expendable tools, where is your conscience????
STOP THIS ANTEQUATED “ENTERTAINMENT”! I’S 2025 & EXPLOITING LIVES!?!?! DO BETTER NYC!!!🩸🔥👹🗽
STOP THIS ANTEQUATED “ENTERTAINMENT”! I’S 2025 & EXPLOITING LIVES!?!?! DO BETTER NYC!!!🩸🔥👹🗽
They don’t need to protect these horses, they need to ban their use and end these horrid carriage rides. No animal should be forced to stand on hot asphalt, breathing in exhaust fumes in scorching heat and then be forced to pull idiot tourists (idiots because this is clearly abuse and they get in the carriage anyway)around for hours. Any time the authorities look into the care of these horses they come back with horrible stories of neglect and the only way to stop this is to outlaw these rides.
This senseless exploitation of these dear horses is extreme torture. Horses don’t want to be on city streets pulling asses on carriages. This is not 1900!!!
These city streets are extreme stress for horses!!! F..ing put the horses ahead of your wallet!!!
BAN THEM ALL NOW!! Fine anyone providing or using them immediately!!!
Agree all comments, justice now for these animals. Ban all of this cruelty. Whats wrong with laws and people laws need to change having breeding selling animals . Too much cruelty and unwanted animals. People who have animals need a yearly checks. We dogs cars must be desexed microchiped and on a animal register.
Enough already stop the insanity this is straight up sickening allowed cruelty allowed abuse allowed torture allowed MURDER! Why hasn’t this been stopped long ago in fact it never should’ve started it never should’ve been allowed to continue especially knowing what you are allowing pushing forcing these poor horses to suffer through stop it now where is your humanity my God step up and do the right thing release these beautiful horses from forced painful stressful intense labor now you know it’s wrong you are killing them! They belong in a pasture not on a busy new York city street in rush hour are you kidding me!
I have called this woman several times and left messages. Nothing has ever been done. I have signed other petitions. Good luck. I am a horse owner and lover. This abuse HAS to stop!!!
Absolutely No Tolerance Towards Animal ABUSERS n Cruelty. An eye for an eye fits this crime n should be the punishment. Hooves Matter
When The Fuck Will They Learn?????
ANIMALS ARE “NOT” MACHINES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!