Horse Abuser on Trial + Ryder's Law Reintroduced

Nearly two years ago, Ryder, an elderly New York City carriage horse, collapsed from exhaustion in Midtown on a sweltering August day. A video of the incident shocked the world when the carriage driver, Ian McKeever, was filmed violently beating Ryder as he lay sprawled and helpless on the ground. Tragically, after years of being used and abused in New York's insidious carriage industry, Ryder passed away a few months after his collapse.

Now, two years later, the city of New York is seeking justice for Ryder and freedom for all of New York's carriage horses.

For his cruel treatment of Ryder, Ian McKeever was charged with one misdemeanor count of overdriving, torturing, and injuring animals, and failure to provide proper sustenance. His trial began on May 30th and saw animal activists and compassionate legislators gathering outside the Manhattan Criminal Courthouse to demand justice. McKeever's case is still pending, and his next court date is set for September 13th.

As the trial of Ryder's abuser is underway, New York City lawmakers have also taken the important step of reintroducing Ryder's Law. Int. No. 967 would prohibit the issuance of new licenses for horse-drawn cabs and shut them down beginning June 1, 2026. This bill would also require the "humane disposition of carriage horses," prohibiting their sale or transfer for the purposes of slaughter or use in another horse-drawn cab business.

If you live in New York City, please consider reaching out to your city council member and asking them to support Introduction 967, Ryder's Law. You can find your city council members here. Simply type in your address in the search bar, and you will see your council member. Click on their name, and you will be taken to their individual page, which will have contact information. Make a call or write an email—it really does make a difference!

If you don't live in NYC, you can take your support to the next level by sharing the petition with your networks so that this issue reaches a wider audience.