For over 160 years, tourists have taken horse-drawn carriage rides in New York's Central Park. Now, the city has voted to stop these rides. Under a new rule, the carriages will be banned in June 2028.
City leaders decided to end the tradition because of worries about safety and animal health. Since 1982, 40 carriage horses have died in the park from heat, crashes, and illness. In June, an 18-year-old tourist died after a carriage horse got scared and ran away. Animal protection groups say busy city streets are not safe for working horses.
However, the roughly 200 carriage drivers are worried about their future. Alexus Lawson has driven carriages in the park for six years. She loves working with her horse, Starlight. Drivers say they take good care of their animals, and they are angry that the city wants to close their businesses.
City leaders say they will help drivers find new jobs before the ban starts in 2028. The new law also forbids people from selling the horses for meat. Even with this help, many drivers still do not know what will happen to their horses or their jobs.