A carriage horse named Deniz died suddenly in Central Park on Tuesday. The horse collapsed while still attached to the carriage. This incident has prompted calls for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani to ban horse-drawn carriages in the city. For decades, these carriages have been a familiar sight in Central Park, but concerns about the horses’ treatment have led to intense scrutiny.
Details of Deniz’s Collapse
A video shared on Instagram by Lenny Bruce depicted Deniz lying on his side, still harnessed to the carriage. Bystanders attempted to free him from the harness while he struggled. The collapse occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday. Carriage driver Nurettin Kirbiyik, speaking to CBS News, expressed his distress, comparing the loss to losing a family member.
A heat advisory was active for New York City that day and continued through Thursday evening. While the exact cause of Deniz’s death remains unclear, a necropsy will be performed to determine more details. Eric Loegel from TWU Local 100 mentioned that Deniz, aged 16, was a cherished horse and had been deemed fit by the NYPD Mounted Unit’s veterinarian in March. He noted that horses can experience sudden health issues.
Pressure on Mayor Zohran Mamdani
Bruce, a regular advocate for animal rights on Instagram, stated that Deniz collapsed while pulling a carriage and tourists up a hill in Central Park. This marks the second carriage horse death on NYC streets this year. Social media users urged Mayor Mamdani to ban carriage rides, tagging him in the video and demanding an investigation.
Corinne Fisher, a past mayoral candidate, highlighted the need to ban such rides, stating Deniz died while suffering. Mamdani has expressed support for removing these carriages, pledging to act. However, the City Council must pass related legislation for a ban to take effect. Newsweek sought comments from Mamdani’s office, receiving no response before publication.
The Controversial Ryder’s Law
Ryder’s Law was proposed in 2022 following a horse’s collapse due to extreme heat in Chelsea. This proposal aimed to replace horse-drawn carriages with electric ones. The plan faced opposition and was not passed by the City Council. Former Mayor Eric Adams criticized this decision, emphasizing public demand for a ban.
Adams noted that carriages could pose risks to animals, pedestrians, and drivers. Conversely, the proposal’s rejection was supported by a union representing carriage drivers, stating that these drivers take good care of their horses.
Recent Carriage Horse Incidents
Several incidents involving carriage horses have occurred recently. Weeks before Deniz’s death, two horses collided in Central Park. In May, a carriage overturned following a collision involving the horses Otis and Troy. Christina Hansen from TWU Local 100 explained that Troy was inexperienced, leading to an accident with another carriage.
In August, another horse, Lady, died while pulling a carriage in Hell’s Kitchen. At 15, Lady had only briefly been in New York City. Hansen claimed that critics often overstate the workload on horses. She stated that the tasks involved are manageable for them, describing carriage pulling as a leisurely activity.