The carriage rides — typically decked out in colorful lights and flowers — are in the beginning stages of being phased out but still operate in abundance in downtown San Antonio. Posted by TikTok user James Vasquez over the weekend, a video shows one on its side in the middle of the street. A horse stands in front, seemingly still hooked up by the reins. From the looks of it, the capsizing appears to have happened at the intersection of E. Commerce and Navarro Streets near Hard Rock Cafe.
Many locals have voiced their concerns about horses working hours in the Texas heat. Additionally, motorists have criticized sharing the road with the carriages, saying it presents its own challenges. However, supporters see them as a charming sight that provides jobs and reflects the city’s history. One commenter wrote, “As much as [I] love seeing these downtown this needs to get banned. [It’s] just so sad [because] they don’t take care of them.” On the contrary, another said, “These horses are very well cared for, they have jobs and are able to do them well.”
A phone number on the back of the carriage visible towards the end of the video matched Yellow Rose & H.R.H Carriage, which uses Hard Rock Cafe as a boarding and embarking point. Yellow Rose confirmed to MySA that the carriage does belong to them.
“There was no injury to the horse and no damage to the carriage,” a spokesperson said. “It was just an unfortunate incident where nobody was involved. Both removed from the streets immediately. We have nothing further to comment.”
Yellow Rose & H.R.H Carriage is one of a few companies impacted by a ban on horse-drawn carriages approved by San Antonio City Council (with only one member abstaining from voting) in late 2024. The carriages have been a stable tourist attraction downtown since 1864.
The ordinance gives companies five years to cease operations, starting with reduced hours in 2027 (and another cut in 2028) until a ban officially takes effect on January 1, 2030. In the meantime, new permits will not be issued and the Animal Care Services Department will not license new horses.