08-08-2025
Carriage horse that collapsed in Hell's Kitchen died of an aortic rupture, union says
The cause of death of a carriage horse that collapsed and died in Hell's Kitchen Tuesday has been determined, the union representing carriage horse operators said Friday.
Lady, a 15-year-old horse that had just been brought to New York City from Pennsylvania in June, suffered an aortic rupture likely caused by a small tumor in her adrenal gland, the union said.
Transit Workers Union Local 100 said the cause of death was determined following a necropsy performed Wednesday at Cornell University Collage of Veterinary Medicine.
A prior physical when Lady arrived in New York City turned up no issues.
In a statement, TWU Local 100 said it was "tragic and sad loss, and we are all mourning Lady's death. However, at least we now have some answers. The reality is that this sudden-death medical episode would kill a horse anywhere — in a field, park, stable, trail, or street — at any time."
Lady collapsed and died at 51st Street and 11th Avenue while heading back to her stable after giving two rides in Central Park. Video from the scene showed the horse on the ground as workers dragged the dead animal into a trailer.
"The pathologist's report does not include any observations indicating neglect or abuse. In fact, the pathologist who evaluated Lady's weight, coat, and muscle tone wrote she was 'in good body condition,'" the union said.
Lady's death sparked renewed calls for what's called Ryder's Law, which is named after a horse that collapsed back in 2022. Ryder died of cancer several months later following a medical retirement. Ryder's handler Ian McKeever was charged with animal cruelty and found not guilty at trial last month.
Ryder's Law would phase out horse-drawn carriages in the city slowly over time. Advocates rallied Wednesday, calling for an end to carriage horses in the city.
"How long will this continue? How long will these horses have to suffer? How long will the City Council just ignore Ryder's Law?" City Councilman Robert Holden said Wednesday.
Holden took aim at carriage horse handlers in his remarks.
"They don't care about horses, or they wouldn't work them to death. They work the horses to death," Holden said.
Christina Hansen, who represents the carriage drivers in the city, took issue with that.
"There's no horse abuse happening on the streets of New York or here inside the walls of the West 52nd Street Stable," Hansen said. "The fact that they would exploit the tragedy and have no compassion for the people that actually knew this horse, who drove this horse, who owned this horse, who took care of this horse 24 hours a day just shows you where their priorities are."
"This happens over and over again. This is not an isolated ... this is systematic abuse that is being rubber stamped by the City Council," said Edita Birnkrant, executive direction of New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets. "There is no protection for horses. That's why Ryder, an elderly horse with cancer, was worked to death. Lady, a 15-year-old horse, dropped dead on the street. Sick, suffering horses are allowed to be worked to death."
"There was zero wrongdoing or negligence here," said Lady's veterinarian Dr. Gabriel Cook, who did not conduct the necropsy.
