Mayor Adams comes out in support of a bill to ban carriage horses

"It's a significant political shift, not least because the mayor has been notably cautious about taking a position until now. But citing a series of disturbing incidents (including the highly publicized 2022 collapse and death of a horse named Ryder, the August death of another horse named Lady, and last month's runaway carriage horse Bambi), Adams framed the move as a matter of both safety and compassion."

"The Central Park Conservancy backed a ban last month, arguing that carriages were damaging the park's roadways and threatening the safety of its 40 million annual visitors. Their endorsement gave the campaign new legitimacy, making it harder for City Hall to stay on the sidelines. Ryder's Law currently has 20 supporters on the City Council, a handful shy of a majority, and its future depends on whether Adams's push gives wavering members cover to sign on."

Mayor Eric Adams announced support for Ryder's Law, a bill to ban carriage horses in New York City by June 2026. Adams cited disturbing incidents, including the 2022 collapse and death of Ryder, the August death of Lady, and last month's runaway carriage horse Bambi, framing the ban as a safety and compassion measure. The Central Park Conservancy endorsed the ban, saying carriages damage park roadways and threaten the safety of 40 million annual visitors. Ryder's Law has 20 City Council supporters, short of a majority. The Transport Workers Union Local 100 criticized the mayor, with president John Samuelsen accusing him of betraying working-class New Yorkers.

Read at Time Out New York