For many visitors, a trip to New York City is incomplete without seeing a horse-drawn carriage trot through Central Park, offering a glimpse of old-world charm against the city’s modern skyline. But this familiar tourist attraction is set to disappear after the New York City Council voted on Thursday, October 22 to ban horse-drawn carriages from June 1, 2028. This would bring an end to a tradition spanning more than 150 years.
The ban, backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, follows years of debate over animal welfare and public safety. And, the death of an 18-year-old Indian tourist earlier this year renewed calls to end the carriage trade.
