By Gus Saltonstall
In the past few weeks, West Side Rag received multiple emails expressing concern about the levels of horse poop in Central Park.
Some specifically singled out horse manure left on the park’s West Drive and East Drive, which are both in the process of being repaved.
“Half of the brand new fresh pavement is already smeared with horse poop!!” wrote one Upper West Sider, who wished to remain anonymous. “This is unsanitary, disrespectful to park guests and the team that worked nights to repave this so beautifully.”
Following up on these community concerns, City Councilmember Gale Brewer penned a letter to the New York City Parks Department on April 3.
“I write on behalf of numerous constituents to report horse manure on the roads in Central Park,” Brewer wrote. One constituent, she said, “points out that horse manure on the right side of the road forces all runners, walkers, skaters, bicyclists, and others to the left side whether or not a carriage is present. I agree—this is a problem.”
Brewer added that she believed horse drawn-carriages “are no longer appropriate anywhere in New York City,” reiterating a long-standing position. But as long as they are still allowed, she said, they must follow the law, which includes rules related to cleaning up the manure.
West Side Rag reached out to both the Parks Department and the Central Park Conservancy for comment on the issue. Neither spoke directly to Brewer’s letter, but they gave similar responses about the alleged No. 2 issue.
Officials from both pointed to city rules and regulations that require drivers of horse-drawn carriages to equip their outfits with horse hampers, horse diapers, or some other manure-catching device to prevent piles of poop from being deposited along pavement.
Conservancy staff tries to monitor carriage operators who do not use preventive measures and do not pick up manure left by their horses along the drives. When identified, those drivers are subject to fines starting at $100.
Sources familiar with the issue told the Rag that complaints surrounding horse poop in Central Park are relatively common each year at the beginning of spring as the weather warms and tourists and residents flock back to the park.
On Wednesday, the Rag set out into Central Park to get our own understanding of the current horse excretion levels.
We walked on West Drive from 72nd to 59th streets, which is a popular stretch for horse carriage rides. And in that span, the Rag counted 14 clear cut examples of horse poop on the roadway.
Most of the piles were relatively small, while some had been flattened out by passing vehicles and sunny conditions.
There were also examples of horse feces at crosswalks within the West Drive stretch.
The Rag, similar to our annual Upper West Side vacant storefront count, will return to this same stretch either six months or a year from now to compare if there is a noticeable change from the 14 examples on Wednesday of horse poop on West Drive.
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I didn’t know Brewer held this position but she is exactly right, there’s no reason to have horses anywhere in NYC.
Not a fan , but it is good for tourism,
Same for dogs.
Surely you’re joking, Mr. Feynman–that is crazy.
A reference to the great physicist.
And why might that be, @Joeb?
Well, unlike horse manure, which doesn’t spread disease, dog poop is filthy. Horses actually built NYC and Central Park, so if you think the horses don’t belong here, then dogs locked in apartments, biting people or other animals, harassing wildlife, etc, equally “don’t belong” either. (Clearly both belong here, but there’s no reason to believe dogs are a better choice for an urban animal than horses – the ultimate urban animals – are.)
Do you happen to know the name of the horse that built Bethesda Terrace? It’s a lovely place and they should get credit.
“horses – the ultimate urban animals” – the rats would like a word.
And for obnoxious people. Next!
How about any one who poops in a public thoroughfares and doesn’t clean it up
That looks like a quite small amount of horse manure, which by the way is great fertilizer in a garden. Someone should rush over to collect it to feed their vegetables or flowers. Or alternatively, that brown grass on the side of the drives would love a shot of concentrated nitrogen, potassium and other nutrients. Speaking as a runner or biker, that tiny amount of horse poop isn’t going to hurt my gear. That said, carriage drivers should respect the current law; this isn’t 1900 Manhattan any more.
All the carriages DO have diapers to collect manure, and the carriage drivers have a sweeper who cleans up what misses the diaper. Horse manure is nontoxic (unlike people, dog and cat poop), and the police and parks department horses do not wear diapers/bun bags at all.
There are 68 carriages working in the park with each horse making several loops a day. Horses poop every couple of hours, especially when walking, so unfortunately even a small amount of poop missing the diaper would appear like a lot.
(BTW, runners and cyclists ARE supposed to be to the left and the middle anyway, with carriages, pedicabs, and cars in the right lane.)
They can DNA test dog poop and tie it to a specific animal based on a cheek swab. All the horses should be registered so the rogue poop can be tested. Raise the fine to cover the cost of the testing.
https://www.pooprints.com/
Sounds a little crazy but Central Park is supposed to be a place where New Yorkers can go for fresh air, and right now it smells like horse sh-t!
I think DNA testing is a bit going overboard but I agree the $100 fine is ridiculously low. These carriages charges $500 per loop in CP. $100 will just be cost of business
Good time to remind people to PLEASE PICK UP AFER YOUR DOGS! There were probably 14 examples on a 6 block stretch yesterday. And even when it’s picked up , it’s not always “gone”.
Agreed; in and out of Central Park, the amount of people in violation of the pooper scooper law is intolerable. And, while we’re calling out Central Park issues, dogs are not to run loose in Central Park (use the dog runs, please).
Off-leash hours in Central Park are from 6:00 am–9:00 am and 9:00 pm–1:00 am. So says the Conservatory
https://www.centralparknyc.org/activities/guides/dogs
Frequent Central Park morning runner here. Please note that those hours do not apply to the entire park! For example, the link you posted states that dogs must always be leashed on the Bridle Path loop around the reservoir. I frequently encounter unleashed dogs there, and it is very frustrating/alarming when they run up right next to me.
Other than picking up the poop what would you like people to do?
I have heard that “curb your dog” actually means to have it poop next to the curb, in the street. You still need to pick it up but any remaining residue will be washed away in the next rainfall. And people won’t have to look at, or step in, poo stains. So… Curb your dog!
I would like people to grow up and stop needing to have dogs. Can’t they relate to HUMANS (what a thought!). NYC has too much of everything already. Dogs are dirty. Period. There’s no space on the sidewalks for them. And dog people will KILL you if you tell them to PUT YOUR DOG ON THE LEASH — they happily break the law and then somehow you’re evil! It’s all too stupid.
I walked the West Drive yesterday and stepped in horse poop that was mashed and wet. I did not see it coming. I think that horses are being abused as animals pulling people around the park. This should have been banned long ago. Shame on the city.
I totally agree. Not only in the park, but they have to use the streets to go back and forth to the stables.
I volunteer in the park, I have never seen a horse by that has not pooped at some point . So much for the diaper.
In the far right lane it is only supposed to be horses and bikes so not sure which pedestrians and runners are there. There more things that need sorting out than horse poop. Looking forward to lines being put back on the new surfaces – mayhem on the weekends
It’s the UWS. None of us want to be seen on the far right of anything
Agree, surprised temporary cones were not placed between the cycling lane and the pedestrian lane. Also signs depicting the flow of traffic; have already seen multiple tourists cycling up the wrong direction and nearly causing accidents with other cyclists, or forcing their way through pedestrians on the right side of the road.
It’s not just tourists who cycle in the wrong direction. Every time I cross the street(on a green light) there are lawless selfish cyclists zooming by in both directions, a daily and dangerous threat. And no one seems to be making any attempt to regulate. They should all be fined–and that is not realistic ,of course. But SOMETHING should be done.
I so agree. I HATE cyclists. I am much more afraid of them than of cars. They are required by law to follow the same laws as autos but they NEVER stop at red lights even when pedestrians are in the crosswalk. Some could easily be ticketed and fined and it wouldn’t take long for word to get around. And don’t even get me started on the cyclists on park foot paths . . .
Sigh. This is about central park
Faster runners will often shift to the right lane to avoid congestion/slower runners/bikes pedaling the wrong way. It’s not an issue in the northern stretches of the park
Where do these horses live? Can you do a story on that?
Some live off 11th Ave at 52nd St. If you drive down 11th just after dark you can see.them making their way home. It’s less that ideal for drivers because, while the carriages have reflectors on the back, of you want to move into the right lane to turn it can be difficult to tell when you are safely in front of the horse.
There should be stables in the park.
Yes!!
What features would you like to see removed from the park in order to make room for the stables?
Davids I really haven’t thought that out. However, Central Park occupies 843 Acres of land. Much of which is vacant of any structures and is forested. I’m sure someone can find an appropriate plot to construct a world class facility for the carriage horse industry and even a riding academy to foster equestrian skills, provide horses for public use on the bridle path, private horse boarding facilities and facilities for the Parks Department and NYPD Mounted units.
you can remove the carriages from CP for all that I care, but I would note that there is a guy out on the drives shoveling up the poop every day that I walk the grand loop
I’ve seen the guy shoveling, but he really only gets the larger chunks and there’s often plenty left behind that’s been caked into the pavement. Its gross and there’s no reason we should tolerate horse excrement all over the park.
How do we know it’s horses’ poop or even if it is poop. I can’t believe I’m typing poop.
Horse poop has a distinctive look, consistency and odor. Because horses eat a lot of dry hay, their manure is, for most people, significantly less offensive than say, dog or cat poop, which is usually non-vegetarian, sticky, and extraordinarily stinky, not to mention a reservoir for …whatever pathogens like omnivore feces, ugh. Horses, donkeys, even cows, produce large but usually “grassy” and inoffensive, dung. (Cow manure, being more liquid due to different digestive operations, is harder to clean up except in very dry places) Some people don’t mind the smell, associating it with barns, well kept animals, manure piles that are aged and used for fertilizer etc. Some dogs rush to smell it , roll in it, or even eat it (because…dogs). Doesn’t seem to harm them, being dogs. Aged horse manure is supposed to be fantastic for growing roses. I do wonder if the Conservancy doesn’t make use of it, to some degree. Always in favor of cleaning up, of course, enjoying the Park, and as much as possible, following the “leave no trace” or “leave it in even better shape than you found it” dicta…but this seems like such a relatively small pile of stuff, these days.
I thought horse poop was basically grass.
When not in NYC I live in a semi-rural area that is lined with bridle paths. Horse poop abounds. Dogs see it as a delicacy although not recommended.
I actually agree that this is probably the most effective and efficient use of Ghoul Brayer’s time.
But honestly, who is complaining about poop on pavement? As if the pavement is supposed to remain pristine?
The cops let their horses relieve themselves all along the West Side bike path. It’s *lovely* I’ll tell you that
Horse sh*t in Central Park is a big reason why I only run in Riverside now. It’s gross, and in wet weather farrrr nastier. Load that on top of the motorized taxis (not pedicabs no more) and the Park Loop’s southern end is way too crowded and filthy.
Can we have a similar piece about off-leash dogs and uncollected feces on the streets & parks in the neighborhood, please? Dog owners have adopted a very suburban attitude towards our common green spaces and the Parks Department isn’t lifting a finger to curb bad behavior or even tap the wonderful corrective funding stream of citing offenders
Just please note the 100% difference between dog or other omnivore waste and horse poop. The latter is basically digested hay and oats – really inoffensive by comparison. Come to think of it, it’s easier to clean off than goose poop – which is all over some places in Riverside.
Sorry, it’s offensive. Especially when it’s raining out and the waste turns LIQUID. Horse urine also stinks as well. I’ve done enough laps in the park my life – I grew up here – to know what it is. No more carraiges
As someone who vacations on Mackinac Island yearly, horse manure should be the least concerning of poop left in the streets. I’m more concerned with people not cleaning up after their pets on the sidewalks or even worse, it not being dog poop.
Surely we can agree poop needs to be cleaned up whatever the source… The horse poop seems like the easiest to tackle – get rid of the horses!
Without consistent enforcement, you can’t expect anyone to obey laws if they’re not convenient—not horse owners, not dog owners, not car owners, not bicycle owners, not children owners.
NYPD’s Mounted Unit does not even attempt to curtail the poop their horses leave behind. I am not suggesting that they are the sole cause of this but they are certainly a contributing factor.
Why does NYPD even need a mounted unit? Never has been clear to me how that helps law enforcement in any way.
It’s historic. The tourists love it. It’s great PR with kids and animal lovers alike. The horses can canter and catch perps which cops on foot cannot. Horses can go up and down steps, which cars cannot. They can jump fences, which cars cannot and nor can bikes. I love the Mounted Unit. They do crowd control that cars cannot. They can see above the crowd. So many reasons to love the 19th century into the 21st. Sorry you don’t get it.
Horses are useful for crowd control at parades and demonstrations
i.e. trampling protesters. They’re ONLY used for that. 2003 antiwar demo is a great example
Clearly you don’t like animals. Let’s leave it at that.
Even if that were true (doubt…), I’ve seen NYPD mounted unit on patrol in central park by themselves & several people have pointed out NYPD horses are patrolling bike lanes. Seems wasteful, ineffective and filthy
It IS true. My late husband worked as a mounted patrol officer. The fact that they are mounted means that they have a height advantage and can see things that people on the ground miss. Given all the complaints about bikers, I don’t know why you think that’s wasteful. My husband told me that they would occasionally catch bikers riding on hiking trails or bridal paths. If everyone would only stay in their lane – including carriage drivers – it would solve a lot of the problems people are complaining about here.
Are you suggesting they should “curtail” their bowels?
I saw a mounted unit poop on the bike lane in the middles of the Hudson River Parkway and leave, so yeah this tracks.
Very depressing that we can’t walk anywhere barefoot in NYC — something that is excellent for our health. DOG POOP!
This is so ridiculous… is it just displaced neurosis about other concerns?? I have no words—these people are messed up. The horses are beautiful and a welcome part of nature. This level of prissiness is sickness. I feel sorry for the people who think this reaction to an oasis of nature/horses is normal. It’s odd and I hope the animals and animal lovers prevail. Is this what happens to a generation that grew up on iPads instead of playing outside in the dirt and trees and fresh air???
Of all the “quality of life” issues in NYC, this would probably rank at the bottom of my list. I’m way more disgusted by the amount of dog feces and human detritus in our streets & sidewalks. The horse drawn carriages are an iconic and much loved facet of Central Park.
Speaking of “quality of life” issues that are disturbing and harming NYC…
What about practically every mailbox and firebox in our UWS neighborhood that’s defaced with obnoxious stickers snd ugly graffiti?
Why doesn’t the city hire a “Paint Team” that fixes this unsightly problem on a timely basis?
Have you seen the disgusting vandalized mailbox RIGHT IN FRONT OF Tip Top Shoes on West 72 Street!! It’s been like that for months.! Doesn’t anyone care?!
These defaced mailboxes and fireboxes make our sidewalks ugly and uninviting …and negatively impact the positive vibrant energy of our street life.
These comments are incredible and the story is pretentious.
The horses should be fitted with poop bags. At the end of the day the manure can be delivered to the Conservancy to be used as fertilizer. Seriously, such poop catchers are successfully used on carriage horses throughout the world.
Does this regulation apply to nypd mounted patrol as well? Because I see horse manure on walking paths in the park belonging to nypd horses and they don’t clean up after their beautiful horses.
1. We’re all adults here, not kiddies. Please use “manure’ instead of “poop.”
2. I suggest that we replace the Central Park Zoo with a proper riding stable (the park is laced with riding trails). Even the NYPD can stable some of their horses there.
The Central Park Police Precinct was originally a police stable.
And bring back the “Curb Your Dog” campaign–with FINES! People have gotten so lazy and entitled.
Keep the horses, get rid of the people. I jest!
Who gives a sh*t? I don’t understand the issue with the horse drawn carriages anyway. It’s good that there are rules to protect the horses (in extreme weather for instance) and anyone who knows anything about horses will tell you that they are healthy and well maintained. If anyone wants to advocate for horses, I suggest they worry about horse racing which is abhorrent. Regarding Central Park, it would be much better to focus our energy on e-bikes, bikes, mopeds, e-scooters and pedicabs running all the lights or off leash dogs all day long (who poop all over the place). Or people smoking in the park. Or people feeding the wildlife. Or people letting their dogs run loose in the fenced off areas meant to protect the elms. I could go on and on…
Don’t get me started about people feeding the wildlife! Don’t you realize the pigeons and all the little birdies are starving? And the squirrels, too!
AND in the dry summer weather, the desiccated horse poop powder blows around in the wind, and presumably, into our lungs.
The horses and horse manure creates an unsanitary environment for all users in the car. In dry conditions, the manure is not only on the pavement but in the air. In wet conditions, the manure kicks up and ends up on bodies and clothes.
You won’t die of carbon monoxide poisoning from a horse. Gas emissions, either. Horses rarely explode like cars. I love the smell of horses. Get over it, dude. We have a bike problem. NOT a horse problem.
This is probably the funniest comment. In the middle of NYC – with black particles of who knows what in our air – dust from dried horse manure is your fear?
Time for the Kawasaki robot horse drawn carriage.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxFiIq0s-4k
Hey city gardeners get your shovels out and scoop up that lovely horse manure. It’s wonderful fertilizer. No s**t.
The horse carriage ride is antiquated. It would do most tourists some good to WALK instead. And while we are at it pedicabs should be banned as well. Walk, bicycle, or run – these are the only things that should be allowed in the park.