The city won’t be taking “neigh” for an answer.
Gotham’s fleet of horse-carriage drivers will be mandated to have their animals undergo a city-hired veterinarian inspection – probing for drugs, injuries and potential abuse – or risk losing their coveted licenses, according to an executive order signed by Mayor Eric Adams hours before successor Zohran Mamdani took the reins of the city.
The move comes weeks after city-hired veterinarian Dr. Kraig Kulikowski attempted to conduct “independent” testing on a sampling of a dozen carriage horses across three stables but was thwarted.
At first glance, he made disturbing observations including scars consistent with ill-fitting equipment and “imply[ing] some signs of abuse” on the equines, outgoing First Deputy Mayor Randy Mastro told The Post at the time.
All 12 horses’ carriage owners refused “standard” follow-up tests such as trotting to evaluate possible lameness and blood testing for drugs such as painkillers, The Post previously reported.
“There’s a right to do examinations, and now the horse carriage owners will be on full notice of the consequences of their actions that they continue this stonewalling,” Mastro told The Post on Wednesday, referring to Adams’ executive order.
John Samuelsen, the president of the labor union that represents the carriage horse drivers, previously argued that the group has “nothing to hide” and “would welcome a truly independent review by equine veterinarians affiliated with major universities,” alleging the vet who City Hall hired is biased against the industry.
Kulikowski has been described as “our veterinarian” by Equine Advocates, a horse sanctuary nonprofit that has advocated against the practice of horse carriage rides.
A City Hall rep has told The Post Kulikowski was the only person with the necessary qualifications to apply for the $20,000 contract in November.
The city Health Department will be issuing notices to the owners of each of the city’s 200-plus carriage horses by Jan. 6 to coordinate exams.
Exams are slated to begin in February. Those who refuse exams risk license suspension or removal by the Health Department, the executive order reads.
Start your day with all you need to know
Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more.
Thanks for signing up!
It will ultimately be up to the incoming Mamdani administration’s Health Department to enforce the new mandate, Mastro said, as new mayors reserve the right to continue to end executive orders.
At a news conference Tuesday, the mayor-elected appeared to change his tune regarding the horse carriage industry.
While Mamdani, who is slated to be sworn into office Jan. 1, has previously indicated support both for a ban on the carriages as well as the formation of a panel to study the decades-old industry, he told reporters Tuesday that he will “support removing horse carriages from Central Park.
“I plan to deliver on that,” he added.
