Toxic Plant Horse Death
NYC Carriage Horse Dies After Ingesting Toxic Plant, Sparking Blame Game and Industry Scrutiny
A 16-year-old carriage horse named Deniz collapsed and died in Central Park on June 9, 2026, after eating a highly toxic Japanese yew shrub along the route near East 90th Street, according to CBS News. A necropsy by Cornell University's College of Veterinary Medicine, released June 16, found "abundant" yew needles in the horse's stomach. The plant's taxine alkaloids caused sudden cardiac arrest.
Deniz's death has ignited a fierce fight over who is to blame — and whether New York City should ban horse-drawn carriages altogether. The Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 100, which represents roughly 200 carriage workers, accuses Central Park's management of negligence. Park officials shot back, blaming the drivers themselves.
Cornell Necropsy Shifts Blame to Park's Toxic Plants
Pathologists at Cornell found Japanese yew needles inside Deniz's mouth and stomach, CBS News reported. The yew plant (*Taxus cuspidata*) is one of the most poisonous plants in North America. A single mouthful can stop a horse's heart. TWU shop steward Christina Hansen said, "When a single mouthful is enough to stop a horse's heart and kill them, it is just shocking to me."
TWU Administrative Vice President Alexander Kemp was direct in assigning fault. "Deniz's tragic death was not caused by neglect," he said. "Poor Deniz died because the people running the Park Conservancy never warned anyone that there were deadly yew plants in the park," according to WLOS. The union argues the Central Park Conservancy (CPC) had a duty to alert horse handlers about toxic flora along carriage routes.
Central Park Conservancy Fires Back at Carriage Drivers
The Central Park Conservancy did not accept responsibility. A spokesperson said, "TWU has now demonstrated how their own negligence has resulted in this unfortunate incident," according to WGME. The CPC pointed to a standing NYC Parks rule that forbids horses from eating any vegetation across the park's 843 acres.
Animal rights advocates added another layer of criticism. Attorney Nora Constance Marino argued that Deniz may have been hungry or thirsty when he ate the plant — and that the driver should have been watching. "Why was Deniz left unattended to eat unknown plants?" she asked. Deniz had passed his last veterinary exam with the NYPD Mounted Unit just three months earlier, in March 2026, and was cleared as fit for work.
Ryder's Law Reintroduced as Ban Debate Heats Up
Two days after Deniz died, on June 11, Council Member Christopher Marte reintroduced "Ryder's Law" (Intro 0967-2026) — a bill to ban horse-drawn carriages in New York City entirely, according to KOMO News. The bill is named after a horse that collapsed in Hell's Kitchen in 2022 and was later euthanized. NYCLASS Executive Director Edita Birnkrant called the situation "a nightmare" and said, "We have got to pass Ryder's Law this year."
A competing bill, the "Horse Welfare and Job Protection Act," was introduced the same day by Council Member James Gennaro. It would require tougher driver exams and stronger veterinary rules instead of a full ban. Mayor Zohran Mamdani has publicly supported phasing out the industry but says he must work with "union partners" on a labor-friendly transition. A total ban would affect approximately 200 workers, including drivers, stable hands, and blacksmiths, according to News3LV.
A 167-Year Industry Faces Its Biggest Legal and Political Test
The carriage horse trade in New York City dates back to 1858 — 167 years of continuous operation. There are currently 68 licensed carriage medallions active in the city, according to MyFox28 Columbus. Each horse is required by city law to get five weeks of mandatory vacation on a farm every year. Deniz's owner, Nurettin Kirbiyik, had cared for the horse for 10 years. "I lose like somebody from my family," Kirbiyik said. "He was a beautiful horse. The best."
The TWU is already fighting on a separate legal front. In November 2025, the union filed a $1 million defamation lawsuit against animal rights group NYCLASS, claiming the organization uses animal welfare as a cover for real estate interests, according to Idaho News. A previous version of Ryder's Law failed in committee in November 2025. This time, with a new mayor in office and a horse dead in the street, the political pressure is sharply higher.
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