The controversy over carriage horses in New York City has been long and heated. Now, in the wake of a tourist death, it has escalated to a bill before the New York City Council that could put an end to the carriage horse industry.
Romanch Mahajan was riding in the carriage when he fell out and hit his head on the ground last month in Central Park. The 18-year-old’s family demanded legislation named for him be passed immediately.
“We cannot begin to put into words the absolute nightmare our family is going through,” said Romanch’s uncle, Gaurav Mahajan. “We urge everyone who values human and animal life to come on July 15 and stand with us and support the passage of Romanch’s Law.”
New Yorkers and animal rights advocates have long been calling for an end to carriage horses. The heat in summer, the noise, the congestion of city traffic and the living conditions of the animals are all inhumane for the horses. Just last month, a 16-year-old carriage horse named Deniz collapsed and died in agony while pulling a carriage with passengers in Central Park. Officials later determined his sudden death was the result of eating a toxic yew plant in the park.
The most powerful voice on the council, Speaker Julie Menin, said Romanch’s death was a tipping point for her decision to support the bill.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani has also been vocal about his support of phasing out the horse-drawn carriage industry. The legislation, Intro 943, would phase out carriages by June 2028.
Menin noted that there has to be support for the carriage workers, who have long opposed any legislation. “I’m actively working on a plan to guarantee them quality employment opportunities in the hospitality industry,” Menin said.
The bill needs 26 votes to pass the full council. Currently, it has 21 sponsors.
Many major cities across America and internationally have banned horse-drawn carriages, including several in Florida; Biloxi, Miss.; Las Vegas and Reno, Nev.; Santa Fe, N.M.; Camden; Broadway at the Beach, South Carolina; London and Oxford, England; Paris, France; Beijing, China; and Toronto, Canada.
To support the NYC horse-drawn carriage phase-out legislation if you live in NYC, contact your local City Council member, submit written testimony to the City Council and join advocacy campaigns led by animal welfare groups, such as the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages.
