Introduction

         Horse-drawn carriages have been around since 3000 BCE. They were used as a mode of transportation before technology advanced, allowing for a quicker, less grueling travel experience as opposed to walking. Much like horse-drawn carriages, washboards haven’t been commonly used since the 1800’s; however, unlike carriages, washboards have been eradicated from daily life, replaced with a newer form of technology as have butter churns, typewriters, and even payphones, which were all invented long after the horse carriage. Continuing to have horses pull carriages around a city when so many other old fashion ideals have been superseded over the years is nonsensical, especially considering the severe weather conditions horses must endure, the mental strain that comes with being a wild animal surrounded by high-speed vehicles, and numerous other factors that should prevent horse-drawn carriages entirely.

 

The Dangers Horse-Drawn Carriages Pose

         For instance, in New York City, Ryder, a 26-year-old carriage horse, who had been working since 9:00 AM, collapsed in 84-degree heat. He had been working for nearly seven hours in Central Park, and despite his exhaustion and old age, was forced to continue laboring until he was physically incapable of doing so. Onlookers were horrified at the horse’s condition, and the video of the event went viral, collecting empathy for the situation from around the globe. The driver, Ian McKeever, was accused of “ignoring the warning signs” and “relentlessly… driving the horse,” exploiting Ryder instead of allowing him to recuperate and regain his energy (Savage 2025). Due to the health issues Ryder faced, the horse had to be euthanized shortly after his collapse. The incident even made it to court, where McKeever escaped persecution, claiming he had “never, ever abused a horse in [his] life” (Savage 2025). Whether the horse had been abused or not, at 26 years old, one year from retirement, and in such hot weather for so long, Ryder’s safety was at risk, and so were the bystanders, cars driving by, driver, and any passengers who might have been in the carriage. Three years later, a young horse named Lady passed away from a similar experience on the streets of Manhattan. After working for only two months, Lady’s fatal aortic rupture caused by a small tumor led to her spontaneous death (Campanile, Propper 2025). Lady’s sudden fall endangered oncoming drivers, traumatized the bystanders nearby, and injured the driver of the carriage, proving the safety risk horse carriages pose.

 

         Similarly, another accident occurred in Memphis, only this time, it was the passengers who were injured rather than the horse. The passengers were already in the carriage when, seemingly unprovoked, the horse took off, riders in tow. Through a heavily crowded area and without a driver, the horse could potentially have caused significantly more damage than it did. There could have been fatalities, car wrecks and even damage to public property. Additionally, there was an irreversible trauma endured by passengers, drivers, and bystanders (Giannotto 2018).

 

Conclusion

          Considering the situation with Ryder, Robert Holden, a member of the New York City council, suggested enforcing Ryder’s Law (a bill to replace horse carriages with electric ones). While the idea was shut down in New York, Illinois saw danger in horse carriages after 334 violations of carriage rules and put a stop to them (Cherone 2020). Biloxi, a city in Mississippi, also banned horse-drawn carriages, as well as Brussels, Montréal, and San Antonio just to name a few. Taking into account all of the risks associated with horse-drawn carriages and the constant debate on the ethicality of it, replacing the practice with more modified and technologically advanced options, such as electric carriages, is a justified and wise decision to make.

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Bibliography:

Evans, M. (2025, December 6). The history of the horse-drawn carriage. Horse Journals. https://www.horsejournals.com/popular/history-heritage/history-horse-drawn-carriage 

 

Savage, C. (2025, July 21). Carriage horse driver Ian McKeever acquitted in Ryder Animal Cruelty Case. W42ST. https://w42st.com/post/ian-mckeever-not-guilty-ryder-carriage-horse-trial/ 

 

Campanile, C., & Propper, D. (2025, August 8). Cause of death revealed for NYC Carriage horse lady, who died on street this week. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2025/08/08/us-news/cause-of-death-revealed-for-nyc-carriage-horse-lady-who-died-on-street-this-week/ 

 

Cherone, H. (2020, April 24). City Council unanimously bans horse-drawn carriages starting Jan. 1 | chicago news | WTTW. WTTW News. https://news.wttw.com/2020/04/24/city-council-unanimously-bans-horse-drawn-carriages-starting-jan-1 

 

Giannotto, D. C. and M. (2018, July 21). Carriage horse runs wild through downtown, injures at least one person. The Commercial Appeal. https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2018/07/20/horse-carriage-runs-wild-downtown-memphis/811153002/ 

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