A carriage horse became “agitated” and got loose in Manhattan on Sunday afternoon — darting toward the West Side Highway and dragging its operator behind, police said.
The 15-year-old runaway horse named Gunner collided with four parked cars before it slipped and fell during its mad dash through Hell’s Kitchen around 3 p.m., authorities and animal advocates said.
The horse initially broke free when its driver tried to fix a malfunctioning canopy and the animal became “agitated” near West 55th Street and 11th Avenue, cops said.
The horse dragged the operator toward the West Side Highway before it became detached from the carriage, but was still connected to the harness without the operator.
After Gunner fell, two off-duty NYPD officers with the mounted unit sprang into action to help the horse and load the animal into a trailer, according to police.
The horse suffered injuries to the legs and cuts to its body, but is in stable condition. It was taken to Clinton Park Stables for further evaluation.
“This is another prime example of why New York City Council Speaker Adrienne Adams and Mayor Eric Adams must take swift action to fast-track and pass legislation to remove cruel and unsafe horse carriages from Midtown streets,” Edita Birnkrant, executive director of animal advocacy non-profit NYCLASS, said in a statement.
The horse appeared “terrified and in a state of distress” as it barreled down city streets, NYCLASS said. The group wants Gunner released to an animal sanctuary.
“Forcing horses into Midtown traffic is a clear public safety danger as well as animal cruelty – it must end immediately,” Birnkrant said.
“The overwhelming majority of New Yorkers polled want horse carriages removed from our streets. It’s time for the NYC Council to start listening and to take action to remove these suffering horses from the street.”
