Pols Call For Investigation Of Central Park Carriage Horse Death

HELL'S KITCHEN, NY — City politicians and animal rights activists are calling for an investigation of the death of a Central Park carriage horse who was filmed repeatedly collapsing inside Central Park before the animal was eventually put down.

Video of the 12-year-old mare Aisha collapsing several times within the park before being restrained by carriage drivers was released on social media Saturday by animal rights activist group New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets. The group held a rally with about 100 protesters in front of the Hell's Kitchen Clinton park Stables Sunday calling for relief for carriage horses who they say are being overworked and mistreated.

"This video is just the latest disturbing piece of evidence we’ve seen showing how poorly these horses are treated and what they go through on these busy city streets," NYCLASS Executive Director Edita Birnkrant said in a statement.

A spokesperson for the carriage industry disputed the group's statements that Aisha was mistreated, and said the cause of the horse's death was a medical emergency.

"Medical emergencies can happen to the healthiest horses, receiving the best, highly-regulated care. Thankfully, *because* she was a NYC carriage horse, this horse was able to receive immediate attention from expert equine veterinarians, her owner and drivers, and our compassionate stable staff. Unfortunately, despite doing everything we could for this horse, we did not get the outcome we hoped for, and are left wondering what happened," Christina Hansen said in a statement.

Aisha began showing signs of distress around 12:30 p.m. Saturday after completing one ride and then waiting for about an hour-and-a-half, Hansen said. Because the horse was unable to stand, she was slid into an emergency trailer and transported back to the 52nd Street stables where she was inspected by a vet. When Aisha showed no signs of improvement, owners and vets decided to euthanize her, the carriage industry spokesperson said.

"Animal rights extremists are already exploiting this tragedy to further their anti-horse agenda during our time of grief and shock," Hansen said in a statement.

Mayor Bill de Blasio — who campaigned in 2013 on a promise to ban the carriage industry altogether — said Sunday that the NYPD’s Animal Cruelty Investigation Squad is looking into the horse's death and "WILL get answers." Council Speaker Corey Johnson, whose district includes the Clinton Park Stables, described the video as "painful to watch," and said "the public deserves answers."

Video of the horse's collapse can be seen below:

In recent years the city has enforced new regulations on the carriage industry that affect where drivers can pick up passengers and when drivers are forced to stop working horses in hot conditions.

A spokesperson for the carriage industry did not immediately respond to Patch's request for comment.