Carriage horse, Ryder who collapsed in NYC has died

In August 2022, a carriage horse collapsed to the ground in Manhattan, New York, and shocked onlookers watched in disbelief as the driver whipped the horse in an effort to get him to stand. The heartbreaking incident took place on 9th Avenue and West 45th Street in Hell’s Kitchen on a day when the outside temperature climbed into the upper 80s.

As reported by the New York Post, concerned bystanders lashed out at the driver as he tried to get the seemingly exhausted horse to stand.

In a follow up to the viral news about the carriage horse collapse, Ryder had been turned over to new owners who stated they had been treating the horse for EPM, (Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis), a parasitic infection. The condition, believed to be caused by possum droppings, caused Ryder to stumble and fall. Once he had fallen, the horse had a difficult time getting back on his feet and suffered leg abrasions, a cut on his neck and bruises on his knees.

Ryder was then retired to a private farm in upstate New York.

Sadly, now two months later, this morning, the Equine Rescue Resource and the Unbridled Heroes Project announced that Ryder had “recently been humanely euthanized due to his medical condition and age.” The release also stated the horse had a “variety of serious medical conditions that required for him to be put down.”

Still, the circumstances about Ryder’s collapse remain disturbing. Supposedly the horse’s previous owner stated Ryder was 13-years-old, however recent reports stated his age at 26 – senior age for a horse. In addition, Ryder was also deemed undernourished.

Stopping NYC Horse Abuse

   BREAKING NEWS: “We are devastated to learn that carriage horse Ryder has died. His horrific collapse, after years of neglect and abuse, inspired tens of thousands of people from across the globe to stand up to carriage horse industry cruelty. But make no mistake: this tragedy was not caused by an act of God – Ryder’s death was the result of savage cruelty and greed. To make a profit, the horse carriage industry would have literally worked Ryder to death if it weren’t for viral videos and the people who exposed their endless lies and cover ups. Their mistreatment of Ryder is the reason he is dead,” said Edita Birnkrant, Executive Director of NYCLASS.

Previous coverage here.

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