![\"Carriage](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/amNY_HorseCarriagesIndustry_TWU-11-scaled.jpg\" "\\"Saddle")
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Equine vet Dr. Cook exams carriage horse Scout. Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n
The battle between horse-drawn carriage drivers and animal rights activists continues, and the latest episode in the saga is heading to court.\n<\/p>\n
The Transport Workers Union (TWU) of America announced on Monday that it filed a lawsuit in a Manhattan state Supreme Court against NYCLASS, alleging the animal advocacy group slandered horse-drawn carriage drivers as \u201cevil animal abusers\u201d through years of \u201cmalicious lies and misinformation.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
While animal rights activists have long called for an end to horse-drawn carriage rides in NYC, TWU Local 100<\/a> and NYCLASS have been at odds throughout 2025 after a string of high-profile horse deaths rocked NYC. TWU has denied abuse and claims the horses died of natural causes.<\/p>\n NYCLASS held rallies and press conferences throughout 2025, many of which were attended by protestors who said the industry is cruel to the animals. TWU took NYCLASS to court, saying the group spreads false information about how the animals are treated. TWU Local 100 represents between 200 and 300 carriage drivers in the city.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cNYCLASS has promoted a false narrative for far too long,\u201d TWU International President John Samuelsen said. \u201cIt has demonized a whole class of workers, mostly immigrants who came to New York City for the American dream, as animal abusers, and that is absolutely false.\u201d<\/p>\n Samuelson has maintained that the horses receive a healthy diet and veterinary care, and are treated humanely.\u00a0\n<\/p>\n \u201cThe Central Park horse-carriage drivers take good care of their horses, and independent equine veterinarians over the years have consistently attested that to be true,\u201d he said. \u201cThere is no systemic neglect or abuse going on. Period.\u201d<\/p>\n At the center of the controversy is not only the well-being of horses, but Ryder\u2019s Law, the nickname of City Council Intro. 967.<\/a> If enacted, the legislation would wind down and end the horse-drawn carriage industry in NYC.<\/p>\n The bill, introduced by Queens Council Member Robert Holden, is named after Ryder, a horse who collapsed in Hell\u2019s Kitchen in 2022 during a heatwave, sparking outrage from animal advocates.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ryder<\/a> later died of cancer in October that year.<\/p>\n More recently, another horse, named Lady, collapsed and died from an aortic rupture near Times Square. NYCLASS told \u201cmalicious lies about Lady,\u201d according to court papers.<\/p>\n \u201cNYCLASS also told the media that Lady was worked to death, continuing NYCLASS\u2019 ongoing pattern of malicious misrepresentations,\u201d the suit alleges.\n<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Edita Birnkrant, executive director of NYCLASS, who is at many rallies against the horse-drawn carriage industry, said the organization has not yet been served with the lawsuit.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThis appears to be a desperate attempt by a failing business brought low by its own actions,\u201d she said. \u201cFor years, New Yorkers and people around the world have witnessed horses collapsing and even dying on our streets, spooking and running wild in traffic and in Central Park, crashing into cars and injuring people.\u201d<\/p>\n Birnkrant referenced Chicago<\/a> and other cities that have shut down the horse-carriage industry.\u00a0<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/amny_RydersLawRally_071323-2-scaled.jpg\" "\\"Saddle")
Animal rights activists rally outside City Hall, calling on the City Council to pass Ryder\u2019s Law.Photo by Gabriele Holtermann<\/p>\n