- Published
After petting a carriage horse in New York's Central Park at the age of five, Alexus Lawson was hooked.
She has driven a carriage in Manhattan's most famous park, pulled by her horse, for six years.
asserted
She → publish → years
But since Lawson heard about the city's vote this week to outlaw the carriages over animal and public-safety concerns, she has been worried.
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she → hear → concerns
"What am I supposed to do with my horse?" asked the 28-year-old, who has been driving in the park for six years.
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who → suppose → years
"You're going to tell me I can't work with her anymore?
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I → go → her
How am I supposed to ensure her health?"
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I → suppose → health
Lawson is one of roughly 200 horse-drawn carriage drivers in Central Park.
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Lawson → draw → Park
Use of the carriages has been an at-times controversial tradition for over 160 years that has become a popular tourist activity.
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that → become → years
On Thursday, New York City Council is expected to vote to pass a ban on the carriages that would start in June 2028.
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that → expect → June
The proposal is backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who says he will help develop a transition plan for workers in the industry.
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he → back → industry
But several drivers who spoke to the BBC said they did not want new jobs, and disputed claims their horses are mistreated - even as many New Yorkers and tourists welcomed the ban.
"There were a few cases of horses dying in the middle of the park.
uncertain
horses → speak → park
You can clearly see that they're not taken care of," said New York resident Ron Tsur.
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Tsur → see → care
"That's not what they're supposed to be doing."
Since 1982, 40 horses working in Central Park have died, according to the Manhattan Borough President's office, which blames issues including overheating and collisions.
uncertain
which → suppose → overheating
New York leaders previously sought a ban, under pressure from animal-rights activists, but faced pushback from city council members and unions representing the workers.
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leaders → seek → workers
But the ban movement found new momentum this summer after the death of a teenager.
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movement → find → teenager
In June, Romanch Mahajan, a tourist visiting New York with his family from India, was in a carriage when the horse bolted, causing the 18-year-old to fall out and die.
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old → visit → carriage
The planned ban - named Romanch's Law after the teen - also follows the death this year of a carriage horse, Deniz, who ate a toxic plant in Central Park.
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who → plan → Park
'Horses are working animals'
Several Central Park horse carriage drivers who spoke to the BBC said they were devoted to their horses and that the rides did not pose a safety risk.
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rides → work → risk
Lawson, who was nearby on the day Mahajan fell to his death, called the deadly incident "extremely tragic".
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Mahajan → fall → incident
But she said if the city was really worried about the safety of the horse-drawn carriages, it would outlaw them immediately - not in two years' time.
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it → say → time
The Central Park Conservancy, the non-profit organisation that manages Central Park and supports the carriage ban, said that over the past 13 months alone, there had been seven "horse-related incidents".
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that → manage → months
In May, a driver was taken to the hospital after a spooked horse hit another carriage, causing it to tip over.
uncertain
it → take → carriage
In January, another horse, named Destiny, ran into traffic near the park, causing a multi-car collision.
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horse → name → collision
Lawson, who owns six horses, pointed out that New York City carriages were the most regulated in the country and said horses enjoyed the stimulation.
"They look at an animal in harness and they see a trap," Lawson said of officials pushing for the ban.
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Lawson → own → ban
"They see a job as something that's terrible.
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that → see → something
Horses are working animals."
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Horses → work → ?
Medet Fidan, a carriage driver for 12 years, feels similarly attached to his horse, calling allegations of mistreatment a joke.
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Fidan → feel → mistreatment
"I spend more time with my horses than my wife and my kids," he said.
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he → spend → wife
"They're telling me I'm abusing my horse?
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I → tell → horse
Fidan said he was angry, and that officials were passing a ban without talking in-person to drivers and others in the industry.
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officials → say → industry
"If you don't listen to me, how can you come and kill my business, destroy my family's, my livelihood?" he asked.
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he → listen → business
The city council held a hearing in July, inviting community members, including horse-carriage drivers, to comment.
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council → hold → drivers
The legislation to end horse-drawn carriages proposes an "industry transition framework" including potential job placement, training, career counselling, and financial compensation for those in the business.
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legislation → end → business
A spokesperson for Mamdani said his office was involved in planning to find new jobs for these workers - who make around $60,000 (£ 44,000) to $70,000 a year, according to drivers who spoke at the city council hearing.
uncertain
who → say → hearing
But the Transport Workers Union, which represents the drivers, said the plan did not include guarantees - including compensation - and that the workers would be "economically wiped out".
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workers → represent → compensation
The union also raised concerns about a lack of funding for individuals and organisations who eventually take in the horses.
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who → raise → horses
It argued that thousands end up at slaughter auctions each year.
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thousands → argue → auctions
The bill forbids selling horses for slaughter or for similar work.
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bill → forbid → work
'Confining for the horses'
Though carriage drivers say they are committed to the health of their horses, concerns over the animals' well-being have been raised in the city for decades.
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concerns → confine → decades
The carriages have been opposed by animal-rights groups, including one that was founded in response to New York's industry.
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that → oppose → industry
In 1866, after Henry Bergh witnessed the brutal beating of a carriage horse, he established the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) to protest horses' treatment and other instances of animal abuse.
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he → witness → abuse
…and 16 more, not listed.
The Aporia
