Horse-drawn carriage rides through Central Park have been temporarily suspended, at least until Tuesday, while officials and industry leaders review safety procedures following the tragic death of a teenage tourist who leaped from a runaway carriage.
Alexander Kemp, administrative vice president of Transport Workers Union Local 100, released a statement Friday expressing grief over the loss of Romanch Mahajan, an 18-year-old visitor who died after jumping from a four-wheeled carriage as the horse galloped through the park uncontrolled and without its driver.
“Words can’t express the enormity of this tragedy,” Kemp said. “We are taking the first steps towards addressing safety issues.”
Kemp added that the review would include examining how drivers can better maintain control of their horses at all times.
According to both the labor union representing the carriage industry and the Central Park Conservancy, which oversees the 843-acre (341-hectare) park, Mahajan is believed to be the first person ever killed in a horse carriage accident since the rides were introduced to Central Park more than 150 years ago.
Mahajan had come to the United States from India with his family to mark his recent high school graduation. The family chose to take a ride on one of the park’s well-known decorated carriages — a decision that ended in disaster. According to his father, who spoke with The New York Times, the carriage driver stepped off the vehicle to photograph the family near a fountain when the horse suddenly took off at a sprint. Romanch’s mother fell from the carriage, and the teenager jumped out in an effort to help her.
The Central Park Conservancy had called for a suspension of the carriage industry as early as Thursday, arguing that stronger protections must be put in place before rides resume. The group noted that Mahajan’s death was the eighth horse-related incident in the park over the past 13 months.
The conservancy contends that horses can no longer safely navigate park roads that are crowded with joggers, cyclists, pedestrians, and motorized scooters. They also pointed out that other U.S. cities — including Chicago and San Antonio — have recently eliminated similar carriage ride programs.
Carriage industry leaders pushed back, arguing the fatal incident highlights the need for stronger safety measures rather than a complete ban on the beloved attraction, which many see as a connection to New York’s storied past.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani reaffirmed his desire to end the industry altogether, pledging to work alongside the city council, carriage operators, and animal welfare advocates to “deliver a just transition that protects workers while ending horse-drawn carriages in Central Park once and for all.”
This is not the first time a New York mayor has taken this position. Mayor Bill de Blasio famously promised to shut down the carriage industry on his very first day in office, but faced years of opposition from the city council. Mayor Eric Adams, who preceded Mamdani, also came out against the industry near the end of his term.
The union said Friday it was committed to working with the city to improve safety and prevent future incidents. It expressed support for increased oversight of drivers, including regular checks within the park and enforcement of rules requiring drivers to remain seated while passengers board, ride, and exit. The union also said idle horses should be kept tethered.
Animal welfare advocates have long raised concerns that carriage horses are overworked, prone to being startled in busy city environments, and housed in substandard stables — and that drivers frequently ignore city regulations. The carriage and horse owners have consistently denied these claims, maintaining that their animals receive proper care and that the stables meet appropriate standards.
