Investigation launched after carriage horse 'Lady' found dead on Hell's Kitchen street

This photo of Lady was taken in June during her physical, which is required by city law before being allowed to work providing carriage rides.
This photo of Lady was taken in June during her physical, which is required by city law before being allowed to work providing carriage rides. Photo credit TWU Local 100

NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — A 15-year-old carriage horse named Lady was found dead on a Hell’s Kitchen street on Tuesday afternoon, prompting outcry from animal rights groups in the city and an investigation by the NYPD.

Police responded to West 51st Street and 11th Avenue at about 2:28 p.m. after receiving a call for help, and upon arrival, spotted a horse unresponsive on the ground, officials said.

The horse was identified as Lady by TWU Local 100, New York’s Public Transit Union, which represents carriage horse drivers.

“We are saddened to announce the death of Lady, a Standardbred Cross, who was 15 years old,” a statement from Christina Hansen, veteran horse-carriage driver and TWU Local 100 Shop Steward read. “Lady was walking home to her stable from Central Park when she suddenly died.”

According to TWU 100, Lady just started her role as a Central Park carriage horse in June, and no abnormalities were found during a complete physical examination that was administered at that time.

“Sadly, animals, including humans and horses, sometimes die suddenly and unexpectedly,” Hansen continued. “We are insisting that a complete necropsy be conducted by a board certified pathologist at an esteemed university to determine the cause of death.”

Executive director of the animal rights group New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets (NYCLASS) Edita Birnkrant said that while Lady’s cause of death is not currently known, it is likely connected to her working conditions.

“It could be a heart attack. I mean, remember, this horse was working through some record-breaking heat. It’s a 15-year-old horse, which is on the older side, but not elderly necessarily,” she said. “But unfortunately so many of these horses are in such poor condition, that this is why they are worked to death, because the city allows sick horses to be worked because there’s no safety protocols in place.”

Lady died after collapsing at West 51st Street and 11th Avenue on Tuesday
Lady died after collapsing at West 51st Street and 11th Avenue on Tuesday. Photo credit NYCLASS

NYCLASS has repeatedly denounced the carriage horse industry, pushing for the implementation of Ryder’s law, a NYC Council bill that would phase out the horse-drawn carriage industry and make way for new modes of transportation. It is named after Ryder, a carriage horse who died in the fall of 2022 after collapsing on a Manhattan street months before.

“We cannot call ourselves the ‘greatest city in the world’ when our elected officials are protecting abuse, enabling it from going on, instead of working to shut it down,” Birnkrant said. “Which is what New Yorkers want, we know New Yorkers want this shut down.”

The group posted video of Lady collapsed in the street to its social media, calling her death “horrific, city-sanctioned abuse.” The group tagged NYC Councilmember Lynn Schulman, NYC Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Mayor Eric Adams in the post, demanding a hearing on Ryder's Law and calling them “complicit.”

“We are appalled that animal rights extremists in NYCLASS are posting photos of Lady, a disgusting and ghoulish effort to demonize carriage drivers who provide food, shelter and medical care for these beloved animals,” the TWU Local 100 statement said in response to the post.

Police said that there have been no arrests in connection with Lady’s death and that an investigation is ongoing.

“We are looking into this troubling incident,” City Hall said in a statement to 1010 WINS. “We’ll always work to keep all New Yorkers–including our city’s animals–safe and healthy.”

Featured Image Photo Credit: NYCLASS