NYC Central Park’s horse-drawn carriages to be banned under new Mamdani deal

Mayor Zohran Mamdani and City Council Speaker Julie Menin have struck a deal to an horse drawn carriages in the Big Apple.

The move would end a centuries-old practice and Central Park tradition that has recently drawn scrutiny over safety concerns.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani, left, and Julie Menin speak to the press at City Hall regarding the NYC budget gap in New York on Tuesday, April 28, 2026. Lone Pine Press for NY Post

The council is floating a bill next week that has the backing of Mamdani, Menin told Politico Tuesday – which would make horse drawn carriages illegal to operate in the five boroughs beginning June 2028.

“Horse-drawn carriages have long been part of New York City’s history, but in an increasingly busy Central Park, this tradition has become a growing public safety liability,” Menin told the outlet in a statement.

Carriage horses are seen in Central Park after horse-drawn carriage rides resumed, Friday, June 26, 2026, in New York. The rides restarted after an 18-year-old tourist from India was killed earlier this month in an accident involving a runaway horse. James Keivom for NY Post

“Next week, the Council will take decisive action by voting on [this bill] to protect New Yorkers, visitors, and the horses themselves.”

Animal-loving New Yorkers have long been fighting to ban the practice of hiring horse carriages for tours of the city’s iconic Central Park – citing grueling conditions for horses who often work long hours in extreme heat and cold.

Carriage horses are seen in Central Park after horse-drawn carriage rides resumed, Friday, June 26, 2026, in New York. The rides restarted after an 18-year-old tourist from India was killed earlier this month in an accident involving a runaway horse, and a city-hired veterinarian uncovered dozens of abnormalities or concerns inside Central Park’s stables. James Keivom for NY Post

Concerns came to a head this summer when an 18-year-old tourist, Romanch Mahajan – was thrown to his death after a horse got spooked on his ride during a freak accident.

A spokesperson for Mamdani did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment.

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