NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — The carriage horse that made headlines earlier this month after collapsing on a busy Manhattan street was malnourished, underweight and older than previously reported, according to a report obtained by the New York Post.
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The ordeal happened on Aug. 10 when the horse, named Ryder, fell on West 45th Street and Ninth Avenue. Ryder laid on the ground for more than hour as his driver screamed at him to get up while striking him.
After the incident, Ryder was examined by a veterinarian where cops said they found that he was actually 28-30-years-old as opposed to his reported age of 13.
“...it was malnourished, underweight and suffers from the equine neurological disorder EPM (Equine Protazoal Myeloencephalitis),” the report read. “Additionally, the horse suffered superficial abrasions to its legs as a result of its collapse.”
The Transport Workers Union, which represents the carriage drivers, initially said the horse tripped, and that it was able to walk itself to a trailer for transport.
"The horse got up on its own power and walked into the NYPD Mounted Police Unit horse trailer," a spokesperson for the union previously told 1010 WINS. "He’s at the stable eating and drinking and waiting for the vet."
Animal rights activists and lawmakers alike were outraged by the incident and calls were made for prosecutors to file animal cruelty charges as well as launch a criminal probe into carraige horse abuse in general.
Last month, a bill was introduced in City Council that would replace horse-drawn carriages with electronic carriages in New York City.
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