Wagswoofs – According to a news release from Manhattan’s district attorney’s office, a carriage horse driver in Central Park, New York, has been accused of animal abuse and neglect. The horse was allegedly overworked to the point of collapse, resulting in “significant health issues.”
Alvin L. Bragg, Jr., the Manhattan District Attorney, has pressed charges against the coachman of Ryder’s horse for overdriving, torturing, and causing injury to the animal. The coachman has been charged with a class A misdemeanor, as well as failure to provide adequate sustenance for the horse.
According to the DA’s office, Ryder was put to sleep a few months after the August 2022 incident because of his deteriorating medical condition.
‘Unacceptable’
The District Attorney stated that Ryder was not supposed to be working on that scorching summer day. According to the allegations, he worked for hours despite his physical condition, which led to his collapse.
According to Bragg, the mistreatment that Ryder experienced is completely unacceptable, and every living creature deserves to be treated with the utmost care.
What happened with Ryder?
According to court documents and statements, the horse collapsed at around 5:10 p.m. on August 10, 2022, right in the middle of West 45th Street and 9th Avenue in Manhattan, New York. The district attorney’s office stated that the horse, Ryder, had been working in Central Park since 9:30 a.m. that day and had been observed to be very thin and frail throughout the day. The news release reported that Ryder was seen “walking slowly while panting with his tongue hanging out of his mouth.”
According to the DA’s office, Ryder was in distress while his coachman continuously attempted to make him stand by tugging on the reins, shouting, and even resorting to using a whip. It was reported that despite the 84-degree heat, the poor animal was not provided with any water or nourishment.
According to the DA’s office, the driver of the carriage kept Ryder connected to the harness even after the horse collapsed and was lying on the ground. However, an NYPD officer eventually came to the scene and removed the harness, which enabled the animal to lie down completely. To help Ryder recover, the officer also applied ice and cold water to the affected areas.
According to the news release, Ryder was found to have various severe health problems. Sadly, he had to be euthanized due to his overall health and medical conditions.
According to official court records, Ryder’s driver was arrested on November 13th after an arrest warrant was issued. The driver was arraigned on November 15th and entered a not guilty plea to the misdemeanor charge. The driver is scheduled to appear in court on December 20th, 2023 to address the charges.
Attorney’s statement
According to USA TODAY, the attorney representing Raymond L. Loving, the coachman for the horse carriage, has stated that the case appears to have been influenced by external groups. “Interference” seems to be the main issue at hand, as per Loving’s lawyer.
Loving expressed his frustration regarding the criminal charges filed by the District Attorney’s Office. He pointed out that the incident happened in August last year, and it has already been over a year since then. He questioned the timing of the charges, saying, “Are you kidding me?” He highlighted that the public has been aware of the case for more than a year, and yet only now did the authorities decide to take action.
Loving expressed his suspicion that the District Attorney’s Office was influenced by external entities, but he did not disclose the identity of these groups. “It appears as though outside interference is at play in this case,” he remarked.
