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Horse carriage drivers to take refresher training
Central Park horse carriage operators are participating in mandatory refresher safety training this week before passenger tours officially resume.
NEW YORK CITY - Central Park horse carriage drivers have returned to the park, but passenger rides remain temporarily paused. Operators are instead participating in mandatory refresher safety training before passenger tours officially resume.
What we know:
The union representing the horse carriage operators confirmed that no rides were given over the weekend. Monday’s training sessions will focus heavily on operational safety and animal welfare. Drivers are being reminded of key regulations, including:
- Driver positioning: Operators must never step off the "box" (leave the carriage) while passengers are still inside.
- Animal welfare: Operators must offer horses water frequently and tether them whenever possible at the stables.
- Pacing: Drivers must only walk their horses; trotting is strictly prohibited.
18-year-old killed after horse carriage crashes in Central Park
A teen was killed after a horse carriage crashed in Central Park on Wednesday.
The backstory:
The renewed focus on safety follows the death of Romanch Mahajan, an 18-year-old tourist from India who died last week after falling out of a runaway carriage.
Reports indicate the 16-year-veteran driver of the carriage had briefly stepped out of the vehicle to take a picture of the family when the incident occurred.
Central Park carriage horse died after eating toxic shrub, necropsy reveals
A carriage horse that died in Central Park last week suffered a fatal reaction after consuming a poisonous plant, according to a recent necropsy.
Reform vs. ban
Dig deeper:
The deadly crash has reignited the political debate over the future of the carriage horse industry in New York City.
City Councilman Chris Martin introduced a bill that would ban the industry entirely. The legislation, originally known as "Rider’s Law," is being formally renamed in memory of Mahajan. A City Council hearing on the proposed ban is expected next month.
The union representing the drivers strongly opposes a complete ban, arguing that while the tourist's death is extremely sad and unfortunate, a single, unprecedented tragedy should not be used to shutter the entire industry. Instead, they view this as a necessary springboard to identify preventative measures and make the industry safer.
As an alternative, the drivers' union is throwing its support behind a competing bill introduced by Queens Councilman James Gennaro, which seeks to heavily reform the industry rather than eliminate it.
The Source: Information from this article was sourced from the Transport Workers Union Local 100, City Councilman Chris Martin and previous reporting by FOX 5 NY.