A 16-year-old carriage horse collapsed and died in New York City’s Central Park on Tuesday evening, sparking renewed public outrage and intensifying calls for a ban on horse-drawn carriages in the city. The incident occurred near 72nd Street and Central Park West in front of shocked park visitors who witnessed the animal’s final moments.

The horse, identified as Deniz, was reportedly being operated by carriage driver Nurettin Kirbiyik at the time of the collapse. Eyewitness videos circulating on social media showed the horse lying motionless on the pavement as concerned bystanders gathered at the scene. Several visitors were seen visibly distressed, with some hugging each other after witnessing the incident unfold.

According to reports citing the driver and representatives of TWU Local 100, the union representing carriage drivers, Deniz was believed to be in good health and had undergone a veterinary check-up earlier in the year. The horse is said to have collapsed suddenly during the ride and died approximately 10 minutes later, though the exact cause of death has not yet been confirmed.

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The incident has added urgency to the long-standing debate over the use of carriage horses in New York City, particularly in high-traffic tourist areas like Central Park. Animal rights groups argue that working conditions, heat exposure, and urban stress place significant strain on the animals, often leading to avoidable suffering and fatalities.

Voters For Animal Rights (VFAR), a grassroots advocacy group, called the death a “tragedy” and demanded immediate legislative action, urging the City Council to pass Ryder’s Law, which proposes phasing out horse-drawn carriages and retiring the animals to sanctuaries. The group said no horse should be forced to pull carriages through Manhattan streets.

PETA also intensified its campaign following the incident, calling for an immediate ban on the carriage industry and questioning how many more animal deaths would be needed before action is taken. The latest tragedy comes just ahead of renewed political momentum around Ryder’s Law, named after another carriage horse that died in 2022, further fueling pressure on city lawmakers to reconsider the future of the practice.

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