Woman Arrested After Allegedly Attacking Two Central Park Horse Carriage Drivers with a Skateboard
A woman has been arrested after allegedly punching two horse-drawn carriage drivers in Central Park and striking one of them in the head with a skateboard. Union representatives said the assault happened on Tuesday after an expletive-laden tirade in front of visiting families.
According to police and video of the incident, the arrested woman is Abigail Holbrook, 27, of Philadelphia. Near a carriage stand she screamed at drivers and accused them of 'animal abuse'.
In the video Holbrook can be heard shouting, 'You're animal abusers! Horses do not do well in New York City. They are very sensitive to light and noise.' She also shouted her own name, saying everyone would know it.
The Transport Workers Union of America (TWU) said that during the altercation Holbrook punched two 45-year-old drivers and struck one of them in the head with her skateboard.
Both victims suffered minor injuries and declined medical treatment at the scene. The New York City Police Department took Holbrook into custody, and she is charged with two counts of assault.
TWU Local 100 Administrative Vice President Alexander Kemp said in a statement, 'This is outrageous and unacceptable.' He said a more visible police presence is needed at horse-carriage stands in the park to protect members, adding, 'This is their place of work and people are coming just to harass and attack them. All workers deserve to be safe at work.'
Christina Hansen, a union shop steward who witnessed the assault and alerted police, placed the blame on rhetoric from city leadership and advocacy groups. She said many people know nothing about horses and are misled by animal rights groups that liken the trade to slavery.
Hansen said carriage drivers' livelihoods depend on their horses being well taken care of. 'I only make money if my horse is well taken care of because I can't go to work if he can't pull the carriage, if he doesn't enjoy his job,' she said.
The violence erupted amid ongoing legal and political battles over the city's historic carriage industry. Last month the city council voted 40 to 7 to pass Romanch's Law, named in memory of 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan, who died in June after being thrown from a runaway carriage in Central Park.
The legislation would phase out horse-drawn carriages entirely by June 1, 2028, while directing the city to establish a transition program for more than 150 drivers and industry workers.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) pushed back against the union's accusations, saying, 'If the horse-drawn carriage trade is suddenly concerned about hostility and violence, it might start by looking in the mirror.'
Hansen said horse-drawn carriages have been a staple of Central Park and Fifth Avenue for generations. 'Carriage horses have been pulling carriages in Central Park since the day the park opened in December 1858,' she said. 'They've been living on Manhattan since 1625.'
