Overview

• Ian McKeever, a New York City horse carriage driver, has been charged with animal cruelty over a year after his horse, Ryder, collapsed on a busy Manhattan street.
• Ryder, who was frail and malnourished, was worked for hours in 84-degree weather before collapsing. McKeever was seen in a video trying to force the horse to stand by pulling on its reins and using a whip.
• McKeever claimed Ryder was 13 years old, but a veterinary examination revealed the horse was between 26 and 30 years old. Ryder was euthanized months after the incident due to his poor health.
• The incident has renewed calls for a ban on horse-drawn carriages in New York City. Councilmember Bob Holden, who introduced a bill last year to replace horse carriages with electric ones, plans to reintroduce a more pointed version in January.
• Despite improvements to the industry since Ryder’s collapse, including independent inspections of horses and stables, animal rights activists believe the problem extends beyond just one driver.