It’s neigh for now on the proposed city law that would have phased out horse carriages, with the council’s health panel refusing to advance it out of committee Friday.

“This is an ill-conceived and silly bill, which I’d be happy to vote no [to],” railed City Councilman Jim Gennaro (D-24), who is on the Health Committee, in siding with the majority and the TWU, the union representing carriage drivers.

Around 200 protesters on both sides of the equine aisle gathered outside of 250 Broadway in Lower Manhattan while debate was held inside over “Ryder’s Law,” a nod to a carriage horse named Ryder who tragically collapsed while working on a hot August day in 2022.

Members of the union that reps horse-carriage drivers rally outside the Lower Manhattan building Friday where a City Council committee was inside debating the industry. William Farrington

The bill was originally introduced by Councilman Robert Holden (D-30) in 2024 — who argued Friday before the committee that the horses that cart around eager tourists in Manhattan’s iconic Central Park work in “horrendous conditions” and pose a threat to park-goers.

“Are we waiting for somebody to get killed? That’s what we’re waiting for. If somebody was killed, by the way, this Council would have acted,” Holden said.

Top-hatted carriage drivers attend Friday’s hearing. William Farrington

But other committee members including Gennaro claimed that Holden’s bill was poorly thought out.

Councilman and self-proclaimed animal lover Justin Brannan (D-47) piled on.

“I’m the only City Council member to have ‘Meat is murder’ tattooed on my neck. I have no issue with the horses in Central Park.” Brannan said. “I do believe that there’s a compromise. That compromise is not to be found in Ryder’s law.”

The hotly debated legislation — which sought to phase out horse-carriage tourism by 2026 — regained momentum this past August when a second working horse, Lady, suddenly collapsed and died, although its death was later found to be caused by an underlying medical issue.

Robert Holden (center) introduced Ryder’s law in 2024. William Farrington

To add fuel to the fire, Mayor Eric Adams threw his weight behind “Ryder’s Law” after Lady’s death, calling for the council to ban carriage rides entirely.

Hizzoner took to X following Friday’s meeting to slam the council’s decision.

“It’s a shame that the City Council has once again refused to follow the will of our citizens, while simultaneously endangering pedestrians, drivers, and animals alike,” Adams said in a post.

The city’s horse carriages should be replaced with electric models, critics say. Advanced Power Vehicles

Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani has indicated he’s not fan of the industry but said he wants to set up a panel to further study the issue.

Ryder’s law received one affirmative vote from Holden, four negative votes from members Oswald Feliz (D-15), Brannan, Carmen De La Rosa (D-10), and Gennaro. Committee Chair Lynn Schulman (D-29) and Mercedes Narcisse (D-46) abstained. Four members of the committee were absent.

“This was one of the most undemocratic displays I have ever witnessed in the New York City Council,” said Holden in a statement after the hearing.

Holden said he will file a protest after Schulman denied Holden’s request to bring the legislation for a hearing. Schulman defended her decision at the hearing, noting Holden was not a member of the Health Committee.