The carriage horse question: Letters to the Editor June 26, 2026

It was sad that a young man died in a horse-carriage accident recently, but that was a freak accident that doesn’t justify a ban (“Rein & suffering,” June 23).By that logic, we should ban bicycles, cars and airplanes, which are many times more risky than a horse-carriage ride.The horses that work in the horse-carriage industry are totally fine, and that is in no way animal cruelty.Ronald MeltzerManhattanThe track record for horse-carriage safety is astounding.

A sick horse gave rise to the movement to shut this iconic fixture down.Now, after the recent death of one horse and the tragic death of a tourist, the outcry returns.Shouldn’t all concerned need to hear from experts before condemning this industry with their untrue charges?Dianne StillmanBrooklynActivists have been pushing for the passage of Ryder’s Law to ban carriage horses for the years.

Yet it’s named after the horse Ryder — who didn’t die from his collapse on the street.He got up, was retired and euthanized months later after being diagnosed with cancer.

His owner-driver, was also acquitted of animal cruelty.It seems no one bothered to find out the facts.Olga HumphreyManhattanI’m a carriage driver in Georgia, and every day I get the privilege of working alongside horses that I love with all my heart.They aren’t machines.

They are family.Draft horses were bred to work alongside people.

If their every work opportunity disappears, what happens to these horses? I’m not asking anyone to ignore animal welfare.I’m asking people to look deeper.Talk to the people who spend every day caring for these horses before deciding what their future should be.Carrie DaughertySavannah, Ga.

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Never miss a story.The recent, tragic horse-carriage accident was, thankfully, a very rare incident.

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