A 15-year-old Central Park carriage horse named Lady collapsed and died suddenly on a Hell's Kitchen street on Tuesday, shocking bystanders who witnessed the disturbing scene. The incident occurred almost exactly three years after another carriage horse, Ryder, suffered a similar public collapse that later led to his euthanasia.

According to the New York Post, the horse was "dead when she hit the ground" at the intersection of West 51st Street and 10th Avenue. Lady had only been working in New York City for six weeks and had completed just two rides on the day she died.

Bystander Alex, 26, described the disturbing scene to the Post: "I couldn't help but see its muscles jiggled, and its tongue was rolling around on the ground. It looked completely dead, I mean, its eyes were open and unblinking the whole time."

Sudden Death Raises Questions About Horse Carriage Industry

Christina Hansen, spokesperson for Big Apple horse carriage drivers, suggested Lady may have suffered an aneurysm or heart attack. The horse had been purchased from Pennsylvania and reportedly passed a veterinary examination on June 12 with no health issues identified.

After Lady's collapse, her driver initially attempted to revive her while nearby deli workers brought buckets of water. Other carriage drivers soon arrived and attempted to move the horse's body into a trailer, creating what witnesses described as a chaotic scene.

Lady's remains were taken to the nearby stables and will be transported to Cornell University for a post-mortem examination to determine the exact cause of death. Hansen emphasized that Lady was not overworked before her collapse and had passed all required medical screenings.

Renewed Calls For Carriage Horse Ban Following Incident

The incident has reignited the ongoing debate about New York City's carriage horse industry. Edita Birnkrant, executive director of New Yorkers for Clean, Livable, and Safe Streets (NYCLASS), called for immediate action in the wake of Lady's death.

"Horses are collapsing, suffering, and dying over and over again — and nothing changes," Birnkrant said. Her organization has been advocating for the passage of "Ryder's Law," a city council bill that would ban horse carriages in Central Park.

The proposed legislation gained momentum after the 2022 collapse of Ryder but has yet to pass. Birnkrant criticized lawmakers, stating: "By blocking Ryder's Law, they are protecting abusers and silencing the public demand for change."

Industry Defends Practices Amid Intense Scrutiny

The carriage horse industry has defended its practices, pointing to existing regulations and oversight. Hansen noted that New York City has "some of the strictest carriage regulations in the country" and that drivers operate under "constant scrutiny" in the public eye.

Earlier this summer, carriage driver Ian McKeever was acquitted on charges of animal abuse in connection with Ryder's death. The case had become a flashpoint in the ongoing controversy surrounding the traditional tourist attraction. Hansen also criticized NYCLASS for posting graphic photos of Lady on social media. In a statement, she called it "a disgusting and ghoulish effort to demonize carriage drivers who provide food, shelter and medical care for these beloved animals."