Central Park Carriage Industry Faces Growing Pressure for Ban

Debate Heats Up in Central Park

New York City’s council chamber was packed last week as a heated debate raged over the future of Central Park’s iconic horse-drawn carriage trade. The issue, which has simmered for years, recently gained renewed momentum following the death of an 18-year-old tourist who fell from a carriage.

The bill, now renamed “Romanch’s law,” aims to phase out the trade by June 2028 and is set for a vote in August. Industry Defenders vs. Animal Rights Advocates

The industry's supporters include stable hands and drivers who attend to 160 horses that draw 68 carriages in the park, a business that has been operating since Central Park was created in 1858. On the other side, a vigorous gathering of animal rights advocates voiced that the carriage horse industry was a representation of man's broad subjugation of animals.

At issue: a bill before the council that would see Central Park’s famous carriage horse trade phased out by June 2028. The issue has been simmering for years, but the support for a ban has gained traction since an 18-year-old tourist was fatally injured last month when he fell from a carriage after its horse spooked and bolted while the driver was taking a photo of his family.

Last week, the council heard from members of the deceased’s family. Deepak, Romanch's father, speaking from India via Zoom, said he could not “properly describe to you the real true fear inside that carriage. It was shaking. It was speeding. There was no one holding the reins, and we could do nothing but hold on to each other and scream.” The bill has since been renamed “Romanch’s law” and comes up for a vote in August.

Advocates for the industry sense the ground is shifting against them, particularly since the council speaker, Julie Menin, voiced her support for a ban. Animals rights activists have marshaled the support of Oscar-winning actor Liam Neeson, who argued that horses are happiest when working. But in this go-around, they have also secured the support of Sopranos actress Edie Falco. She told the assembly she was “here for the horses” and emphasized their right to a dignified life.

The debate has touched on the welfare of carriage horses, with concerns about accidents involving toxic plant matter. In a hearing last year, Christopher Marte, the bill's sponsor, said that if a human or another animal like a cat or a dog was forced to pull a carriage, “we would call it inhumane.” The debate has also highlighted complex issues of tradition, animal welfare, and economic impact in the heart of New York City’s most beloved park.