Animal Advocates Release Video, Claim Abuses By NYC Horse-Drawn Carriage Industry

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Video of an undercover investigation is raising questions abut New York City's horse-drawn carriage industry.

Adam Wilson, with the group Last Chance for Animals, said the video made last spring and summer shows the horses being abused in many ways and allegedly being put in dangerous situations.

"Drivers making U-turns, going the wrong way down one-way streets; running red lights in their carriages; one driver who refused to let his horse have access to water when it was over 80 degrees," Wilson told 1010 WINS' Carol D'auria.

The video and formal complaints have now been turned over to the city's Department of Health and other city agencies that govern horse-drawn carriages.

But Christina Hansen, a horse-drawn carriage advocate, said the video was selectively edited to mislead the viewer.

Horse-drawn carriages in New York City have been a contentious issue over the years. Mayor Bill de Blasio campaigned on banning the carriages from the streets of New York City and proposed legislation in the City Council to do just that.

Wilson and Last Chance for Animals are advocating passage of the bill that would ban horse-drawn carriages, which is still pending in the City Council.

The legislation would take several steps to eliminate horse-drawn carriages, including not renewing licenses to operate carriage horses. Those licenses are set to expire in 2016.