Central Park Carriage Horses: What Romanch's Law Would Change by 2028

What's happening with the Central Park carriage horses?

The Central Park carriage horses could stop working on June 1, 2028. That's the date set by Romanch's Law (Intro. 943), which New York's full City Council is scheduled to vote on Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026.

Council Speaker Julie Menin and Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced a deal on the bill on Oct. 13-14. The Council says 29 of its 51 members co-sponsor it, and Menin's office told AP the bill has enough support to pass.

The vote has not happened yet. Council schedules can slip, and the industry has said it will go to court if the bill passes. We'll update this page after Oct. 22.

Why it has a name

The bill is named for Romanch Mahajan, an 18-year-old visitor from India who died in June after a runaway carriage incident in Central Park. His family pushed for the law. AP reported it appeared to be the first death in a Central Park carriage accident.

How the NYC carriage trade works today

If you've only seen the carriages from the sidewalk, here's the short version:

• Licenses (medallions): The city limits how many carriages can operate. Each one needs a medallion, and owners have paid large sums for them. CBS New York reported "hundreds of thousands" of dollars.
• Drivers: Licensed drivers, many of them immigrants, take passengers on loops through the park's southern end. Many are represented by TWU Local 100.
• Horses: The horses live in stables in Manhattan and work under Health Department rules on hours, weather, rest and vet care (see the table below).
• Scale: The industry says it gives more than 100,000 rides a year and has operated for more than 160 years. CBS New York puts the figure at 168 years.

What Romanch's Law would require

This is what the Council's Oct. 14 press release and news reports describe:

1. No new carriage licenses, starting right away.
2. No horse-drawn carriage operation from June 1, 2028. That's about 20 months after the vote.
3. A workforce program for drivers and other workers, including job referrals, career counseling and placement, hiring events, and information on schooling and tuition help. amNY reported the plan is due by April 2027 and would include referrals to MTA, Port Authority and TLC jobs.
4. A program to help owners find a "humane disposition" for the horses. AP reported owners could not sell the horses for slaughter.
5. Compensation is optional. The bill only asks the city to "consider" paying owners for their businesses, licenses and equipment.

Menin's office is also setting up a working group with one representative each from the Speaker's office, the mayor's administration and labor.

Timeline at a glance

Both sides, fairly

Supporters: safety first, then welfare

Menin said that "in an increasingly busy Central Park," the carriages have become "a growing public safety liability." Council Member Lynn Schulman, who chairs the Health Committee, called it both a public-safety and an animal-welfare issue.

The animal-advocacy group NYCLASS and the Central Park Conservancy, which manages the park, both back the bill. Safety moved to the center of the debate after the June death, and horse behavior explains why: horses are prey animals, and a sudden noise can make even a calm, experienced horse bolt. In traffic and crowds, that can turn into a serious accident in seconds.

Drivers and owners: jobs, money and a fair deal

At the Oct. 16 rally where the carriages line up for tourists, drivers, owners and TWU Local 100 said 68 medallions and dozens of small, often immigrant-owned businesses are at risk. Some owners said they have invested years, and in some cases millions of dollars.

Their main points:

• Accidents are rare, they say, given the number of rides each year.
• The transition plan has no funding and largely means job fairs and counseling, according to TWU leaders.
• Alternatives exist. A medallion owner laid out three options: reform the industry, switch to electric "heritage" low-speed vehicles, or offer a fair, complete buyout.
• Delay the vote and reopen talks, which they say the Speaker's office ended.

TWU also argued that stray voltage in one area of the park may have spooked the horse in June. That claim has not been confirmed. The industry says the ban is unconstitutional and plans to sue if it passes.

What happens to Central Park carriage horses after a ban?

This is the question most people search for. The honest answer is that the details aren't written yet. The bill requires a city program to help owners place horses humanely, and reports say it rules out sale for slaughter.

In general, retired carriage horses can go one of these ways:

• Private homes or farms, often as trail horses or companions. Draft horses tend to be calm and sturdy, which makes them good for that work.
• Rescues and sanctuaries. These can be a good fit, but space and funding are always limited, so a placement program will matter.
• Staying with their owners, for example on a farm outside the city. The horses already spend at least five weeks a year at farms with turnout.

City rules let carriage horses be licensed up to age 26, so some of these horses are seniors. Many horses live well into their 20s, though big draft breeds often have somewhat shorter lives than light horses. Older horses need more dental care, feeding adjustments and hoof care. See our guides on how long horses live and how to adopt a horse.

Thinking of adopting a retired carriage horse? A quick checklist

• Budget for a big horse. Drafts eat more hay and need bigger tack and wider trailers.
• Ask for vet records. NYC horses have twice-yearly exams, so the paperwork should exist.
• Book a pre-purchase or adoption vet check, focusing on hooves, joints and teeth.
• Plan the move to turnout slowly. City horses may not be used to grass or a herd.
• Make sure you have a qualified farrier who can handle heavy feet.

For day-to-day basics, start with our care guide.

How carriage-horse welfare rules work now

Until any ban takes effect, the NYC Health Department's rules still apply. Here are the key ones:

Advocates argue that no rule can make a busy street safe for a horse. Drivers argue that accidents are rare and that the trade should be reformed, not ended. Both points are worth knowing if your own town debates carriage bans.

What to watch next

• Oct. 22 vote: Check whether it happens on schedule and what the final vote count is.
• Mayor's signature: Mamdani backs the deal, so a veto is unlikely. The bill becomes law once he signs it, and its deadlines then start to apply.
• Lawsuit: Watch for a court challenge from owners or the union, and whether a judge pauses anything.
• Funding: See whether the city puts real money behind job transition or a buyout.
• The horses' plan: Look for who runs the placement program, how many horses it covers and what screening adopters face.

If you're visiting New York before 2028, carriage rides are still legal and still regulated. Watch the horse, not just the view. A relaxed, well-kept horse is the best sign of a responsible driver. More on reading horses in our behavior and safety sections.