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NYC carriage horse driver acquitted of abuse charges
Editor's note: The above video aired in a 2022 newscast about the incident.
NEW YORK (PIX11) --- An NYC carriage horse driver was found not guilty of abusing the animal after a five-day jury trial in Manhattan, authorities said Monday.
Ian McKeever, 56, had been charged with overdriving, torturing and injuring animals, and failure to provide proper sustenance, prosecutors said.
McKeever was accused of abusing the carriage horse, Ryder, until the animal collapsed on a hot day in Hell’s Kitchen on Aug. 10. 2022, according to court records.
Investigators said Ryder had suffered from serious health issues and had to be euthanized months after the incident.
“All animals deserve to be treated with the utmost of care. I thank the jury for dedicating their time to hear the evidence presented to them over these past five days. I also want to thank our prosecutors for presenting a thorough case based on the facts and evidence,” Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg said.
Ryder was walking slowly while panting with his tongue out before he fell near 45th Street and Ninth Avenue at around 5:10 p.m., prosecutors said. The horse had been working all day in 84-degree weather in Central Park.
Prosecutors had alleged McKeever tried to force Ryder up by repeatedly whipping him and pulling on his reins, according to court documents. The defendant also allegedly failed to provide the animal with water while he was on the ground.
Authorities said an NYPD officer finally removed Ryder’s harness and gave him water and ice for 45 minutes until he was able to stand.
"We will continue to investigate and bring cases where animals are harmed and mistreated, and I encourage people to call our hotline at 212-335-9040 to report instances of animal abuse," Bragg said.
Councilman Robert Holden (D-Queens), who is the primary sponsor of Ryder’s Law, legislation that would outlaw the horse carriage industry in New York City, called the acquittal a "travesty of justice."
"Ian McKeever knew Ryder’s true age — the horse was nearly 30 years old, the equivalent of a 90-year-old human — and still chose to force him to work on the scorching streets of Manhattan. As seen in widely circulated video footage, McKeever was caught whipping Ryder as the horse collapsed from exhaustion, suffering and dying before the eyes of New Yorkers. This decision ignores the cruelty and inhumanity of what happened. I will not give up on ending this barbaric and outdated industry once and for all," Holden said in a statement.