NYC carriage horse collapses and dies in Central Park, traumatizing parkgoers
โThat horse, without a doubt, had an agonizing death right in front of everyone. People will never forget seeing that happen,โ NYCLASS Executive Director Edita Birnkrant told The Post.
125 years ago. NYC was ALL Horses. I lived on a farm in Quebec and I asked the farmer, what was the first thing they grew on the farm. He said "Hay", that all got shipped to New York City.
Oh wow.
Died suddenly. .....
Vaxx is safe and effective. Not horsepaste. [/s]
Oh right.
The beasts have been pushing vaccines on animals for some time now. My guess is Seabiscuit there got his jab(s) and this is the result. RIP ๐
The reason this is being pushed .Is because NYC is trying to outlaw horse carriages . with a bill currently in legislation. Problem Reaction Solution. This has been the playbook for decades.
It has been in the works for a very long time. It is the same BS. At this point, I do not exclude someone harming the carriage horses.
Oh God. The legislation for this didn't go forward last week, and now there is a press in the newspapers, PETA is involved and other jurisdictions. They even published that the horses forced out of NY will go to rescues, and forever homes that have already been arranged for them.
After Las Vegas, I will bet there is no necropsy, but a huge anti-horse push, and a "solution" in the form of all horses out of the city.
I'd love to see the tox screen on that horse. Bastards.
I'm not in favor of government dictating things like this, but NYC horse carriage horses need a break. I hope they all go to forever homes for retirement.
Perhaps you are unaware that by law, the NY carriage horses have 5 weeks off each year. Because they are not allowed to work in high temps, I suspect the owners choose to take them out of the city and put them out to pasture during the hottest time of the year.
Oh they will. Forever just may be sooner than later; after all it takes land, feed, a farrier and vetting to keep a horse going.
Next? Dogs. Enjoy them while you have them.
Well I guess, as a whole, horses are treated better today than they have been for thousands of years. Armies would run them to death, switch horses, run them to death again. Horses are beautiful creatures. Still sad to see. But it happens. Itโs kinda weird how nowadays humans are more attached to animals than their own kind. Weโre more kind to animals. Defending of animals. Respectful. I mean of course there are โthoseโ stories, I mean as a whole. You can take a person who has never owned a horse, cry over this picture here. But hearing about an infant torn apart in a murderous procedure called abortion, they just scroll to the next topic. Unaffected.
Then there's halal.
"The cause of the horseโs death, or its age, is not yet known."
But get rid of carriages horses for once and for all. His death traumatized park goers.
I was an ignorant lout when I was there using the carriage. They really mistreat the horses.
Maybe ppl should go to amish country rather than central park to see horses.
LOL. Right.
The Amish tend to work their horses to death. Not all, but many.
I hope you are wrong. IMHO Horses are too expensive to waste, and the Amish are thrifty. The Amish are the ones preserving the large working breeds like Belgians and Percherons.
Ppl who think animals (bred for domesticity by man) should not work (for man) are basically saying that those animals do not deserve to LIVE AT ALL!! They have no other purpose in life! Their like no longer lives in the wild! They exist with man, or not at all.
Maybe the Amish do continue to work older horses?? Is that it?? Should they just shoot them?? WHO can afford to adopt an older pet Percheron?? [Older race horses are sold off and adopted.] Who would suggest they should just be let loose to fend for themselves in freedom??
Domestic breeds are bred for work, and that is their purpose, and they are often quite loyal to their service, and do not want to quit or disappoint their masters.
I have read of sled dogs who refused to be let out of their traces until they die. /sauce well I have read a lot about these valiant dogs, in rescue runs, not only in exploration of the Poles, but carrying supplies and medicines and etc.
Lucky Amish draft (heavy) horses are sold at auction, and are bought by carriage horse companies, or trainers, with the possibility of being sold to carriage horse companies.
The reason is that they are trained to harness (not the same as trained under saddle), respond to voice commands (you've heard "Yee, Haw" before. Yee (or Gee) is right. Haw is left. A harness horse can be controlled by voice command. Safe and handy.
The work of a farm horse is FAR more strenuous than a city carriage ride horse. If one can purchase a trained horse, it is better and more economical than training a saddle horse to harness. If they are serviceably sound, carriage work is a day in the park, and owners > have to watch their diets because they are not getting a lot of exercise.
The carriage horses are photographed all day, every day, by tourists and locals. If a horse were in visibly poor condition, it would be immediately known and addressed.
As stated, the Amish are thrifty, but horses are seen as a tool. If auctioning a horse off will bring in more money than working them to their very last day then selling them is possible. Nobody is going to sell during the brutal harvest season, though. Late fall is the time, and somebody is going to have to feed that animal all winter.
I am glad there is a market for those great draft horses after their prime work years . . .
"somebody is going to have to feed that animal all winter."
Dad called pet/recreational horses "hay burners" so yes they are expensive and time consuming just to take care of for an occasional ride or to watch them in the pasture.
But nonetheless farm families want horses! At least one! I was at the auction one day with Dad to buy / sell bottle calves or something [it was a treat to get to go with him to the auction!], and he saw this black gelding part quarter-horse pony going up for sale, and asked me if I wanted it! I didn't even have to beg for it! $40 about 1966. OH he was a stubborn pony! Only my brother could saddle and bridle him, and only he and I could ride him! And he was a treasure to me, although he tried constantly to throw me as I was riding bareback and holding on to his mane. Memories!
BUT I have seen my brother cutting cattle on horseback. The daughter of a neighbor of ours rode barrel racing at the fair; I have seen her father round up cattle that got out of the fence and got on the road.
They try to earn their hay!
No, they shouldn't just shoot them. However they should take better care of their horses instead of just keeping them alive. Obviously I'm not referring to ALL the Amish, but some think of their working animals as machines to get the job done, and horses are not always treated humanely.
A wee bit of looking into Amish horses might convince you otherwise.
In what way is that animal mistreated? Is it overworked? Underfed? Underweight? Is it made to work in extreme temperatures? Is it made to pull loads that exceed 2.5 times it's weight? Does it have to wear a bearing rein?
Could you elaborate, please?
Based on the Ryder's Law, these are the reasons.
Urban Stressors: Constant exposure to chaotic traffic, loud noises, and breathing in car exhaust.
Physical Toll: Pounding on hard city pavement and pulling heavy carriages up inclines.
Health Complications: Susceptibility to stress-induced ulcers, colic, and other digestive issues from unnatural diets.
Ryder's Law is not a law. There are laws on the books. If you would like I can post the current law.
I did not use that word. It's what they called it. Ryder's Law.
Yes, it is someone else's word. Bit sneaky of them.
True.
Too much Beef-a-rino
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tmhCTnU88e4
This also happened in affluent Cape May NJ I think two summers ago.
Sometimes horses die.
I never ride the carriages because I just end up feeling bad for them.
Im nauseous. This is wrong ๐
Worked to death.
Please take a look at the photo of the horse on the ground and let me know how many ribs you can count. It's ok, I'll wait.
Starvation is not the only way to kill a horse. Over worked, dehydration and heat exhaustion from the heat index is more common. These actions cause colic where the gas is trapped in the intestines and the horse cannot remove it. The pain so severe it's unbearable. Then add grain only to their diet and no foliage and water? Impaction of the manure, disaster waiting to happen. Most horse people know about this and it's our biggest fear.
How did you find out that this horse was on a grain-only diet? Was this animal denied water? Do you actually have access to the stable?
The city approved it being on the street in excess of the city's temperature regulations.
How did that happen, and could you please post the source on that?
The only source I have is from 48 years experience training show horses. They are herbivores. 80% hay and 20% gain. When hay is restricted, the grain builds gas in their intestines and they can't get rid of it. When they sweat and lose water in their bodies and add no foliage to their diet, their stool becomes hardened and they can't pass it. Now you have an impacted intestine, gas from the grain and you have the recipe for death or surgical intervention. If they survive. This happens allot and it's called colic. I unfortunately witnessed this at a horse show where the owner ran out of hay for three days and continued to feed grain. Found the dead horse in his stall with marks on the walls from rearing up and hitting the walls with their hooves. That poor horse died a painful death. I have no idea what this horse died of but my experience guessed this is a high probability.
Since you've seen this in show horses and "have no idea what this horse died of," how is this death related to carriage work?
If your point is that the horse world is not exempt from the same level of poor judgment (your example of an all-grain diet) as the rest of the world, I agree. There is no lack of imbecilic, moronic, nitwitted, or obtuse owners, trainers, riders, and competitors in equine endeavors.
I counter your point and pose that there are thoughtful, well-informed, loving, caring, and enlightened people in the horse industry as well.
You have experienced the former, and I presume you are the latter.
Thanks for your opinion. That's what makes this site so great is we can all voice our thoughts.
In your first post the claim (without any evidence) was that this horse was "worked to death" now you claim he colicked? Those a pretty different diagnosis.
Just like you. An opinion. I'm a horsewoman for 48 yrs. My father was a Veterinarian. I have no idea what that house died from but it's common in the horse competition precaution world and non competitive horse owners that this is a high risk. As for the feed, I've seen it happen with my own eyes this happens when hay is so expensive now that they cut back and just give grain. Grain produces gas.
How kind of you to admit that you have no experience with performance or working horses.
But claiming that this issue is nutritional rather than your prior stance that it was overwork is interesting. Are there any other reasons you would like to claim?
It's easier to refute a stationary target rather than one that is so mobile, but I am happy to oblige.
Ugh, you misunderstood. I am a horsewoman, competitive equestrian winning 16 Championships, animal husbandry and Veterinarians daughter for 48 years. I have suture my own horses and provided my own veterinary care. I don't care what you believe or what you think of me. I dont need your approval .
Not saying it was a good thing, and Mamdani is a 5th column piece of shit, but linking a horse death to him seems tenuous at its face. We have to continue to apply logic, reasoning, and the Socratic method to these situations. If we don't we sound like we have TDS except for conservatives.
You're right. Knowing or at least showing a willingness to learn about the situation rather than parrot the narrative is a useful place to start.
Awful. This happens every year with proof of abuse and nothing ever happens.
Gosh, I had no idea there was proof of abuse. Could you post that for us, please?
https://www.nycbar.org/reports/report-on-horse-drawn-carriage-legislation/
I presume we are not looking at the portion that references the regulations concerning the temperature ranges these horses can work in, or the lack of any allegations of abuse.
There has been a long-standing effort to get the horses out of Central Park and install Model-T era miniature electric car rides. The company that owns/operates this equipment is related to New York politicians. Quelle surprise!
I have not kept up with CP/horse news but last check they are monitored by the city, air temp is taken next to them so that they can't work outside the proscribed range, water is available, and health and shoes are monitored by the city.
Carriage Operators of North America (CONA) are the main body in the US, and while I doubt they are open to discussion with non-members at the moment, they are likely to have some good information on their website.
Whipping up emotion is very old and very tiresome.
If anybody has an actual carriage or draft question, I am happy to oblige.
Based on the reasons the Ryder's Law, these are the reasons:
Urban Stressors: Constant exposure to chaotic traffic, loud noises, and breathing in car exhaust.
Physical Toll: Pounding on hard city pavement and pulling heavy carriages up inclines.
Health Complications: Susceptibility to stress-induced ulcers, colic, and other digestive issues from unnatural diets.
Yes, that is the narrative. Why is it accepted without question?
BTW, what "unnatural foods" are the horses being fed?
Concrete? You don't have a lot of natural food for the horses.
I heartily agree with you. Feeding horses concrete is bad. The dogs, children and adults that frequent Central Park shouldn't eat concrete either. Not that any of them would, but still, I endorse the "no concrete" rule.
OK that was a bit snarky. I'm guessing that you believe horses get their nutrition from grazing among whatever is growing along the side of the road. Reasonable but no (not that they won't try). What a horse is fed hugely impacts their performance and well-being, and there are industries based on this. Why they don't graze on the job: eating with a bit in their mouth is a choking hazard. Goodness knows what is sprayed on the plants in Central Park. If the horse is a draft or partial draft we defer to the expert. Namely Ms. Valentine.
Beth A. Valentine, DVM, PhD, is involved with EPSM research and other veterinary matters at the College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University. She is co-author of Draft Horses, an Ownerโs Manual. Also a contributor to the "Draft Horse Journal" and why people might feed draft horses cooking oil, but no grain. Short answer: It's ok, We have feed stores. Remember the musical "Hello, Dolly"? Horace Vandergelder has a feed store in Yonkers NY, and sells feed to NYC. Trivial answer is bonus.
You do know alot about this.
NY Central Park is not a good place for horses and or dogs to work there all day long. Just like it's not a good thing to live in apartment and have a husky.
That's all I am thinking of for the horse.
Here is a well done article by someone with more expertise than I.
๐๐ก๐๐ง ๐ ๐๐จ๐ซ๐ฌ๐ ๐๐จ๐ฅ๐ฅ๐๐ฉ๐ฌ๐๐ฌ: ๐๐ก๐ฒ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ง๐ฌ๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ฌ ๐๐๐๐จ๐ซ๐ ๐๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐ฌ ๐
A 16-year-old carriage horse named Deniz recently collapsed and died while working in Central Park in New York City. Witnesses reported that the collapse was sudden, and the incident has reignited debate about the use of horses in tourism and carriage industries.
While emotions understandably run high when an event like this occurs, it is important to recognize that a video alone cannot tell us why a horse died. And while I have seen accusations tossed around such as overwork or heat stress, a difficult reality of working with horses is that they can experience sudden, catastrophic medical events with little to no warning.
When a horse appears normal and then suddenly collapses, veterinarians often consider catastrophic cardiovascular events among the possible explanations. However, there are numerous potential causes of sudden death in horses, and determining what happened in this case will require a thorough veterinary investigation and necropsy.
In 2025, a similar event occurred when a 15-year-old mare named Lady collapsed in Hellโs Kitchen on her way back to her stable. A necropsy revealed her cause of death was aortic rupture associated with an adrenal tumor.
While every case is different, it serves as a reminder that cause of death cannot be determined from a video alone.
That does not mean management practices of carriage horses should never be questioned. There is absolutely a larger conversation to be had about the use of animals in tourism, and horse-drawn carriage operations are part of that discussion.
In fact, Iโve been working on a post that dives into the research on carriage horses since a trip to the Caribbean in December, and this incident may be the push I need to finally finish it (so stay tuned if this topic interests you).
However, many activists and commentators have already begun presenting this incident as evidence that carriage horse work caused this horseโs death. At this point, that claim is not supported by the information currently available.
Right now, all we know is that a horse suffered a sudden and catastrophic event. Whether that event was related to his job, an underlying condition, management factors, or something else entirely remains unknown.
It is important to continue evaluating horse welfare in all settings, including tourism and carriage operations. However, using a highly publicized event to advance a particular position before the facts are known is irresponsible.
For now, the most scientifically honest answer is that we simply donโt know what caused this horseโs death.
But above all else, a horse lost its life. Regardless of where you stand on the carriage horse debate, my thoughts are with those who knew and cared for Deniz and are now dealing with that loss.
Cheers, Dr. DeBoer See less
Those horses live miserable lives. Imagine living your whole horse life standing on a hot street in a polluted city all day. Only giving occasional rides to tourists.
What makes you think that the image in your mind is the reality of the horse's experience?
I disagree that they live miserable lives, that NYC is hot every day, and I thought the horses were "worked to death" how is that reconciled with "only giving occasional rides to tourists"?
Imagine thinking NYC is hot every day of the year.
This is total nonsense. The horse was sick or dehydrated. Abuse of these animals by one man (if he abused it) shouldnโt be attributed to years of tradition. Mandami didnโt do a darn thing stupid to blame him.