Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Video: Carriage Horse Collapse Leaves One Tourist Traumatized
By
Jen Carlson
Published Aug 4, 2011
Modified Aug 4, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Carlson
Published Aug 4, 2011
Modified Aug 4, 2011
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Tourist Theresa Shaver was taking a carriage horse ride in Central Park on Sunday afternoon when the horse fell to the ground... and she caught it all on video (you're going to want to turn your volume down!):
Shaver was clearly distraught by the incident, and told CBS that the experience was "traumatic." Not only that, but after the horse collapsed (twice), the driver put him right back to work... which she also filmed:
Naturally, a spokesman for the Horse and Carriage Drivers Association, Ian McKeever, says Shaver is just “crazy” and overreacted in the situation. He says the horse was returned to the stable and didn't work until the next day, claiming in her video the driver was just waiting for Shaver to come collect her purse. He says, "We followed proper protocol, we brought the horse back to the stable—made sure the horse was fine. And the horse was fine." The ASPCA's vet says the horse was simply spooked by a pedicab.
The Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages sent out a release saying, "In view of the three recent accidents, [we have] asked the Public Advocate's and Manhattan Borough President's office to do an independent investigation of the safety aspect of the carriage horse trade. We have also asked the Comptroller's office to do a performance audit of the Department of Transportation, Department of Parks and NYPD—to look into the lax oversight of these agencies regarding traffic rules."
Last month a cab crashed in to a carriage horse, injuring the passengers and driver.
Tagged
carriage horse
carriage horses
collapse
theresa shaver
tourist
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Brooklyn woman hit and killed by garbage truck at peak time for traffic deaths, NYPD says
At a time of year when traffic deaths rise due to reduced visibility, 30-year-old Siobhan Lynch was struck and killed just after dusk.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 29, 2026 at 7:54 a.m. ET
NY's housing crisis is on the ballot. Here's what the candidates say they'll do about it.
Housing costs are top of mind for many voters across New York.
By
David Brand
News
NY's housing crisis is on the ballot. Here's what the candidates say they'll do about it.
Housing costs are top of mind for many voters across New York.
By
David Brand
Brooklyn's Ocean Parkway is a haven for reckless driving. Mamdani isn't allowed to fix it.
By
Stephen Nessen
Man killed in police-involved shooting in Moonachie, NJ
By
Kaya Laterman
Queens man took girlfriend’s body to beach in a wagon, where it remained for 5 days
By
Charles Lane
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .