New York's Central Park horses work up to 9 hours a day and get 5 weeks of vacation. The city now wants to abolish the iconic carriages

New York plans to abolish its iconic Central Park horse-drawn carriage industry. The latest development has sparked interest in how these horses live and work in one of the busiest cities in the world.

New York City has extensive rules governing working horses, including those used for Central Park carriage rides. According to the NYC government's website, all working horses in the city must have a licence issued by the Office of Veterinary Public Health Services (VPHS). Those seeking to drive horse-drawn carriages must also apply for a Horse Drawn Carriage Operator's Course to obtain a driver's licence.

City law also sets limits on the animals' working hours. Carriage horses are prohibited from working more than nine hours in any 24-hour period. For other working horses, the limit is eight hours. Furthermore, carriage horse owners must ensure that their animals receive at least five weeks of vacation or furlough every 12 months.


Rental horses must also undergo a veterinary examination before being used in a rental horse business. They must then be re-examined every four to eight months.

Horse owners and stable operators must maintain proof of rabies vaccinations for their animals. To be licensed, carriage horses must be at least five years old and no older than 26. New York City also requires horses to be provided with blankets during severe winter weather. To protect them from rain, owners must keep waterproof blankets made of lighter material available at all times.

Why does New York City want to abolish its iconic horse-drawn carriages?

According to CNN, Mayor Zohran Mamdani and City Council Speaker Julie Menin have reached a deal on legislation aimed at abolishing horse-drawn carriage rides. The report said the ban would take effect on June 1, 2028, and be implemented in phases.

Animal rights activists have opposed horse-drawn carriages for years. The recent death of 18-year-old tourist Romanch Mahajan, who died after being thrown from a runaway horse-drawn carriage in Central Park last summer, has added momentum to the movement against the century-old tradition.

When did New York City introduce horse-drawn carriages?

Horse-drawn carriages around Central Park have been a part of New York City's history for more than 150 years. However, horse-drawn streetcars were introduced in the city much earlier.

According to History.com, the city's first horse-drawn streetcar was introduced on November 14, 1832. In fact, it was the city's first mass-transit service, with passengers charged 12.5 cents per ride.

The streetcar was named after John Mason, a wealthy New York businessman, railroad co-founder and president of Chemical Bank who funded its creation. It had seating for around a dozen passengers, although people often squeezed inside to get a ride.

The New York Herald compared the crowded conditions to 'sardines in a box'. "People are packed into streetcars like sardines in a box, with perspiration for oil. The seats being more than filled, the passengers are placed in rows down the middle, where they hang on by the straps, like smoked hams in a corner grocery," the newspaper wrote.