Carriage Horse Dies After Manhattan Collapse As Probes Continue

HELL'S KITCHEN, NY — A former Central Park carriage horse has died months after it collapsed on a Hell's Kitchen street corner, according to advocates, who say the animal's demise was caused by "savage cruelty and greed."

The horse, named Ryder, was seen sprawled out on Ninth Avenue near West 45th Street on a hot August day. Video showing Ryder lying nearly motionless and being sprayed with water further inflamed a long-simmering debate over the welfare of carriage horses, helping reignite an effort to ban them from the city.

Ryder's death was announced Monday by the animal rights group NYCLASS and by a sanctuary that had helped care for him. The horse was euthanized "recently," the sanctuary said, "due to his medical conditions and age" — though it did not elaborate on the horse's ailments.

The Manhattan District Attorney's office is still investigating Ryder's collapse, a spokesperson confirmed, amid claims from NYCLASS that the horse had been abused.

Ryder's owner, meanwhile, has been issued two $1,000 penalties from the Department of Health for falsely stating the horse's age on a license application and health certificate, according to an agency spokesperson. The agency did not name the owner or specify the false statement, but NYCLASS says Ryder's age had been incorrectly changed from 26 to 13 years old.

"We are devastated to learn that Ryder has died. His horrific collapse, after years of abuse, inspired tens of thousands of people from across the globe to stand up to carriage horse industry cruelty," said Edita Birnkrant, executive director of NYCLASS, in a statement. "But make no mistake: this tragedy was not caused by an act of God – Ryder's death was the result of savage cruelty and greed."

"To make a profit, the horse carriage industry would have literally worked Ryder to death if it weren't for viral videos and the people who exposed their endless lies and cover ups," Birnkrant added.

Christina Hansen, a carriage driver and shop steward at the TWU Local 100 union, which represents carriage drivers, said the union was "very saddened to learn of Ryder's passing," saying his collapse had prompted the industry to add "new veterinary and safety protocols."

"We’re sorry that at the end of Ryder’s long life, he did not get to enjoy more of his retirement," Hansen said in a statement. "Ryder has positively impacted carriage horse welfare and brought our carriage community together. Our condolences to all of his connections and everyone who knew him, even for a moment."

Related coverage:

• Video: Carriage Horse Collapses In Hell's Kitchen, Inflaming Debate
  
• Central Park Horse Carriages Could Be Replaced By Electric Vehicles