The New York City Council has passed a bill to gradually end the city's horse-drawn carriage business by mid-2028. The decision will bring an end to an industry that has operated for more than 165 years.
Carriage rides have long been promoted to tourists as a special New York experience. At a hearing earlier this year, longtime driver and stable manager Conor McHugh described their importance to visitors. He said people travel from around the world to take a carriage ride in the park.
However, the industry has faced years of criticism over the treatment of horses and concerns about safety. A campaign to end the rides, which has continued for decades, gained new strength this year after a fatal incident in June. Romanch Mahajan, a teenage tourist from India, died in an incident involving a runaway carriage horse.
