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Carriage horse collapses and dies in Central Park
By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Jun 10, 2026
Modified Jun 10, 2026
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By
Brittany Kriegstein
Published Jun 10, 2026
Modified Jun 10, 2026
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A carriage horse died in Central Park Tuesday evening after an apparent medical episode, according to police — bringing new attention to animal rights’ advocates push for a long-debated ban on horse-drawn carriages.
NYPD officials said the 16-year-old spotted draft horse, named Deniz, was giving two people a ride when he died around 7:30 p.m. Officers spoke with his carriage driver, Nurettin Kirbiyik, who told them the horse had a medical emergency, police said.
Police said there did not appear to be any criminality involved in the incident.
“I really feel like I lost someone in the family,” Kirbiyik said in a statement about the incident from TWU Local 100, the union that represents carriage drivers. The union added that Kirbiyik saw no signs that Deniz was ill on Tuesday.
Deniz was last seen by the NYPD Mounted Unit’s veterinarian in March and found to be fit, according to the union.
Deniz would be transported to the pathology department of Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine for a full necropsy to determine why he died, the union wrote.
City Councilmember Christopher Marte and Voters for Animal Rights President Julie Cappiello issued a joint statement promising to reintroduce Ryder’s Law, a bill that would end the carriage horse industry and transition drivers to other jobs, but that failed to advance after a committee vote last year despite the support of 22 sponsors. The measure was drafted after a horse named Ryder collapsed on a Manhattan street in 2022. He was retired to a private farm outside the city, but had to be euthanized several months later.
“The death of Deniz in Central Park tonight is a heartbreaking reminder that this system no longer works — not for horses, and not for the workers whose livelihoods depend on an industry facing an uncertain future,” Marte and Cappiello said. “Tonight’s tragedy was heartbreaking — but future tragedies are preventable.”
Opponents of the industry rallied in Wednesday's heat on the steps of city hall, where councilmember Frank Morano called on his colleagues to pass Ryder's Law.
"We're putting thousand-pound prey animals into an environment filled with sirens, horns, construction equipment, delivery trucks, buses, bicycles, scooters, e-bikes, and millions of people, and then we're surprised when something goes wrong," he said.
The Central Park Conservancy also issued a statement supporting Ryder’s Law, describing the horse-drawn carriage industry as a public safety risk in crowded Central Park, and pointing to incidents where it said drivers were injured after spooked horses bolted.
TWU Local 100 has long opposed Ryder’s Law, saying it would be open to additional regulations but opposing an outright ban. The group has repeatedly said that carriage horses are not mistreated, and described them as an iconic part of New York culture.
In its statement Wednesday, the union described Kirbiyik as an owner who’d cared diligently for Deniz since purchasing the horse 10 years ago — and added that horses, like other animals, can suffer sudden medical issues.
The average life span of a draft horse — the heavy-boned breed usually used to pull carriages — is about 20-25 years.
— Includes reporting by Liam Quigley. This story has been updated with more information
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Brittany Kriegstein
Brittany Kriegstein covers all breaking news around New York City, with a focus on crime and gun violence. Got a tip? Email Brittany at [email protected].
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