BREAKING: NYC to End Horse-Drawn Carriage Rides, PETA Pledges $50,000
It’s the end of the road for horse-drawn carriages in New York City. In a historic win, the City Council voted to pass Romanch’s Law, meaning the largest U.S. city with a horse-drawn carriage industry will finally leave it behind. The law will phase out horse-drawn carriages by June 1, 2028, consigning the cruel industry to the history books. Just before the vote, PETA joined Speaker Julie Menin at City Hall Park and announced that it will donate $50,000 toward the horses’ future care.
PETA thanks Speaker Menin and Mayor Zohran Mamdani for their enduring commitment to getting this lifesaving legislation across the finish line.
PETA has fought for this bill for over 4 decades, and today’s landmark legislation comes after a vigorous campaign. Working alongside our allies at NYCLASS (New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets), we rallied support from hundreds of thousands of PETA supporters. We took to City Hall, protested, and launched billboards across New York. New Yorker and PETA Honorary Director Edie Falco testified in support of the bill.
Remembering Romanch and How We Got Here
Romanch’s Law (Intro 943) is named in honor of Romanch Mahajan, an 18-year-old tourist who was killed in a horse-drawn carriage crash in June 2026. His death came just days after Deniz, a 16-year-old horse used in the carriage industry, collapsed and died after being forced to pull a carriage through Central Park.
The bill was originally known as Ryder’s Law, named after Ryder, a horse exploited for carriage rides who collapsed on a Manhattan street in 2022. Video footage showed Ryder struggling to get up as reports indicated that his driver slapped him, whipped him, and screamed at him.
Almost a year later, a horse named Lady collapsed and died while being forced to pull a carriage through busy Manhattan streets.
This suffering is built into the horse-drawn carriage industry. Carriage rides are no walk in the park for horses made to haul them. Operators force them through chaotic city streets, where they dodge cars, inhale exhaust fumes, and pound the hard pavement all day long in sweltering summers and freezing winters. Many suffer respiratory ailments, painful leg and hoof problems, and injuries from accidents.
How PETA Helped Secure This Major Win
PETA kept the pressure on New York City, taking the fight for horses from the streets of New York to the steps of City Hall. Here just a few moments that helped turn up the heat:
Edie Falco Led a Chorus of Support for Romanch’s Law
At a pivotal City Council hearing, PETA Honorary Director and lifelong New Yorker Edie Falco joined the Mahajan family, veterinarians, and animal advocates in speaking out for Romanch’s Law. More than 100 advocates submitted testimony, and following the hearing, the bill secured a majority of City Council cosponsors.
New Yorkers Rallied for Lady and Demand Change
The morning after Lady’s death, a swarm of compassionate New Yorkers joined PETA and NYCLASS’s emergency rally outside the Clinton Street “stables” (a high-rise building) in Hell’s Kitchen, where Lady was kept when not dragging tourists through city streets.
Later that month, PETA supporters gathered outside City Hall to demand that Council members pass Ryder’s Law (now Romanch’s Law) before another horse suffered the same fate.
78% of New Yorkers Said “Neigh” to Horse-Drawn Carriages
The most comprehensive survey ever conducted on New York City’s horse-carriage industry revealed that a staggering 78% of registered New York City voters across every borough, political party, and age group support a ban on horse-drawn carriages.
The poll showed a rare citywide consensus, which came after all leading mayoral candidates at the time voiced their support for a ban on horse-drawn carriages.
Celebrities Spoke Out
Some of the biggest names in entertainment joined the call to end New York City’s cruel horse-drawn carriage industry. Kathy Najimy, Lea Michele, Alec Baldwin, Pamela Anderson, Christie Brinkley, Bill Maher, Pink, Wendy Williams, Anjelica Huston, and Martha Plimpton all used their platforms to keep the pressure on city leaders.
How YOU Can Keep Helping Horses
Never take carriage rides pulled by horses, and explain to your family and friends why they shouldn’t, either.
This victory in New York City is massive, and it sends a powerful message to other cities that exploit horses for carriage rides.
Keep the momentum going. Take these quick actions today to help horses everywhere:
