NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) – A renewed push is under way in New York City to ban horse-drawn carriages after a horse was recently injured in an accident with an SUV.

Carriage rides through Central Park are a staple of city tourism, but for years now, state Sen. Tony Avella has been pushing for legislation to ban the industry.

He and other activists rallied outside the park Saturday.

They say city streets aren’t safe for the sensitive animals.

Carriage owner Ian McKeever disagrees. He says the horses that clip-clop through the park are “the best kept in the country.”

1010 WINS reporter Gary Baumgarten spoke with carriage owners…

McKeever told 1010 WINS reporter Gary Baumgarten that everybody should have the life of a carriage horse.

“These are the only horses in America who get five weeks of vacation, has to see a vet every 4-months. Works an average of five or siz days a week depending on the weather, sometimes less. Everybody here should have a horses life,” he said.

Canadian tourist Fran Hill says she thinks the carriages are part of New York’s charm and should be allowed to continue operating.

Supporters of a ban say they have gathered more than 121,000 signatures of support.

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