Lady, a 15-year-old carriage horse, collapsed and died on a Manhattan street in the middle of the afternoon.

She had worked in New York City for just six weeks. She gave two rides that day. She never made it back to the stable.

Now, city officials say there’s “no criminality suspected.” But to many New Yorkers, Lady’s death is not just an isolated incident — it’s part of a system that continues to exploit animals for profit, even in the face of tragedy.

For over a decade, advocates have warned that forcing horses to work in chaotic city traffic, extreme heat, and noise-drenched streets is cruel and outdated.

Lady isn’t the first horse to die on the job — and unless the city acts, she won’t be the last.

We are calling on Mayor Eric Adams, City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams, and the entire New York City Council to take immediate action.

Suspend horse-drawn carriage operations now!

Support the passage of Ryder’s Law — the bill that would finally ban horse-drawn carriages in NYC by June 2026.

City leaders have delayed long enough. The evidence is clear. The suffering is visible. Horses like Lady are not sightseeing props — they are living beings. No animal should collapse and die while hauling tourists through traffic.

Lady’s death is a warning. Let’s not wait for the next one.

We, the undersigned, demand that New York City end the cruelty hiding in plain sight. Deliver justice for Lady by ending this inhumane industry — before it claims another life.