They’re voting neigh on the horse ban.
A majority of New Yorkers who regularly visit Central Park are against a horse-carriage ban that’s gaining steam in the City Council, a new industry-funded poll found.
The survey New Yorkers paid for by the union advocating for the horse carriage drivers found 57% of respondents want the carriages to ride on — while 37% want them put out to stable.
The Slingshot Strategies poll was paid for by the Transport Workers Workers Union, which asked participants if they support or oppose the carriages after telling them the rides “have been part of Central park since the day it opened.”
“Some people see them as an iconic tradition, and part of what makes the park such a special place in New York, while providing good jobs,” the poll told respondents before asking their opinion. “Others see horse-drawn carriages as outdated, unsafe, or inhumane.”
The survey, which queried New Yorkers who visit Central Park at least monthly, mentioned Ryder’s Law — a proposed bill named after a horse that collapsed on a Manhattan street three years ago and later died, spurring outrage from animal rights who claimed the horse was abused.
The measure would phase out the horse-carriage industry by June 1, 2026.
Interviewers informed respondents that Mayor Eric Adams recently signed an executive order to prepare the city to phase out the horse carriage industry, saying horse carriages rides are no longer safe or humane.
The survey conductors also reiterated the industry position that the horses are well cared for, with regular veterinary oversight and rest periods, and that the industry supports good paying union jobs.
The statement claimed that banning horse carriages would benefit “real estate developers who want to build luxury apartments where the stables are currently located on the west side of Manhattan.”
“After hearing this information, do you support or oppose continuing horse drawn carriage rides in and around Central Park?” the survey asked.
Fifty four percent of respondents said they support keeping the horse carriages, while 37% are opposed.
Similarly, the interviewers read a statement noting that Central Park was designed by Fredrick Law Olmsted in the 1850s with horse carriage rides in mind to escape the daily hustle and bustle in the city while drivers “animate the landscape.”
“Which of the following best describes your view of horse drawn carriages in Central Park today? They are part of a timeless tradition in Central Park which should be preserved. They are outdated and longer belong in the park?,” interviewers asked poll participants.
Sixty percent of park visitors said the horse carriages should be preserved while 30% agreed they are antiquated and should be banned from the park.
Respondents were also asked to agree or disagree with the statement that horse-drawn carriages “add beauty and charm to Central Park” and make it a unique place for New Yorkers and tourists alike.
Seventy percent of park goers agreed the horse carriages are a magnet for visitors, while 23% disagreed.
Meanwhile, 66% of respondents agreed that ending horse-drawn carriages would take away part of what makes Central Park unique and iconic, while 29% disagreed.
The respondents were asked again at the end of the survey after hearing more about the issue: “Do you support or oppose banning horse-drawn carriage rides in and around Central Park?”
The verdict: Only 24% supported a ban while 60% opposed with the rest not having an opinion.
“There is resounding public support for keeping the carriage horses in Central Park,” TWU president John Samuelsen said.
“This poll sends a clear message that New Yorkers aren’t buying the politicized anti-horse rhetoric. The carriage horses are part of the soul of Central Park — a living, breathing tradition that brings beauty, history, and heart to this city. People don’t want that erased. They want it protected.”
Slingshot Strategies surveyed 738 New York City residents for TWU residents from Sept.29 – Oct.5. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points.
But polling done by animal rights groups have claimed the public is on their side in wanting to ban horse carriages, when New Yorkers are told more about alleged abuse of horses.
Some 71% of Big Apple voters supported a ban, a 2022 survey conducted by Voters for Animal Rights and the Animal Legal Defense Fund claimed.
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