07/14/2026
AMNY 7/13/2026: "As a board-certified equine surgeon with more than 35 years of experience evaluating and treating horses, I would like to dispel some myths.
First, it’s not true that horses should not work. They are domesticated animals that have worked alongside humans for 5,000 years. They are designed to work, they like to work, and, if healthy, they absolutely should work. It’s simply false to say it’s cruel to ask 1,600-pound draft horse in harness to propel a carriage on giant wheels through a vast park built for horses. They do not pull carriages. They use their considerable strength, step forward, gain momentum, and walk on. By the way, stablemen maneuver these carriages around the stables on their own every day.
Second, it’s difficult to find suitable homes for horses, let alone 200 horses, which is the number providing tours of Central Park. It can easily cost $1,000 a month to provide adequate food, medical care, and shelter for a horse outside the city. That doesn’t include dealing with illnesses common to the species, such as colic.
If NYC bans carriage rides, the potential fate of these horses is terrifying. Some could easily end up in slaughterhouses or be euthanized. You may know the first person who buys a carriage horse, but there’s no way to follow its path beyond that.
And sanctuaries aren’t the magic ticket some describe. There are no federal standards. It’s not uncommon for horses to be rescued from sanctuaries. Or to see postings from sanctuaries begging for donations because they can’t afford to care for a new horse.
When I was introduced to the carriage industry four years ago, I was mesmerized by the history of working horses in New York, the stables that evoked a sense of the past, and the drivers. They embody everything good about New York City and our country. Immigrants from all over the world, they are part of a supportive community that works hard to advance themselves and their families.
I also fell in love with the iconic carriage horses whose unique ability to bring joy to city residents and tourists alike is unmatched. There’s nothing like watching city kids meet, touch, and interact with a horse for the first time. The smiles on their faces are priceless. These meaningful and beautiful moments will disappear if a ban is enacted.
I’m not the only veterinarian in the industry. But based on the horses I evaluate and observe at the stables, I can say without hesitation that these horses are not mistreated or neglected.
For this industry to be sustainable, however, the NYC government needs to enforce rules, starting with those that prevent horses from straying. It needs to adopt higher standards and new safety measures, such as those in Councilman Gennaro’s bill, Intro 937. Every industry has a “few bad apples” and the city has been sticking its head in the sand and doing nothing about rule compliance. So have some industry leaders. On the medical side, there should be a chief veterinarian with the final say on whether a horse is ready to return to work.
New York City is the greatest city in the world. Before banning this historic industry, and causing real economic harm to immigrant workers, I suggest the Council and mayor – in fairness to the workers and horses – make a genuine NYC effort at creating a model system for the rest of the world to follow. It absolutely can be done.
Dr. Cook is a partner at the New England Equine Practice and Hospital in Patterson, NY."
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As a board-certified equine surgeon with more than 35 years of experience evaluating and treating horses, I would like to dispel some myths.
