NYC Council Passes Romanch’s Law in Historic Vote to End Horse-Drawn Carriages by 2028

NEW YORK — Today, the New York City Council voted to pass Romanch’s Law (Intro 943), which ends the issuance of new horse-drawn carriage licenses and phases out the industry entirely by June 1, 2028.

Statement from Kathleen Schatzmann, Strategic Legislative Affairs Manager at the Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF):

“Today is the start of a more humane and safe approach to New York tourism – for people and horses alike. This law responsibly and compassionately winds down the antiquated horse-drawn cab industry by prohibiting the issuance of new licenses, while pairing the phaseout with meaningful workforce support and protections for carriage horses. This is a balanced and thoughtful approach to long-overdue reform. We have sadly witnessed, time and again, the harm that the horse-drawn cab industry inflicts on New Yorkers, as well as the animals who are exploited for labor in dangerous conditions. Finally, the end of this practice is now in sight.

“We thank Council Member Marte for sponsoring the bill, the majority of Council Members who signed on, and Speaker Menin for her leadership on this issue. We look forward to Mayor Mamdani signing Romanch’s Law to help make the city safer for all.”

Background

The vote follows a long history of cruelty and harm that horse carriage rides have imposed on horses who have been forced into hard labor for entertainment. New York City residents were tragically reminded of how dangerous these rides can be after a tourist, Romanch Mahajan, was killed in June 2026. A horse was suddenly startled, and the teen died after being thrown from the carriage. In another recent incident, a horse named Deniz collapsed and died in the summer heat.

The high-profile incidents that have made the headlines over the years didn’t happen in isolation. The horse-drawn carriage industry has been rife with inhumane treatment, injuries, and death for years, requiring legislation to be stopped. The horses used on carriage rides were forced to endure both the extreme temperatures in the summer and freezing temperatures in the winter without protection from the elements.

Romanch’s Law will wind down the horse-drawn cab industry by prohibiting the issuance of new licenses used in the operation of horse-drawn cabs. It requires humane placement of carriage horses, prohibiting their sale or transfer for the purposes of slaughter or use in another horse-drawn cab business. It also requires the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection to administer a workforce development program for drivers and other workers engaged in the horse-drawn cab industry to facilitate their transition to other fields of employment.

The legislation was originally introduced in 2022 after an elderly, emaciated horse named Ryder collapsed and died on 9th Avenue in New York City while being forced to pull a carriage in the brutal summer sun. That same year a poll was released, which showed 71% of New Yorker City voters are in favor of legislation to ban horse carriage rides in their city.

Municipalities deciding to ban horse carriage rides is not new. Cities around the country such as Philadelphia, Chicago, Biloxi, and Key West have already banned horse-drawn carriages.