Manhattan Carriage Driver Acquitted in Animal Abuse Case

A Manhattan carriage driver, visibly emotional, broke down in tears following a jury’s verdict to clear him of animal cruelty charges. The jury took just one hour to decide on the case against Ian McKeever, 56, who faced a misdemeanor count related to overworking his horse, Ryder.

The incident in question involved Ryder, a fragile carriage horse, who collapsed on a Manhattan street in 2022 and later died months afterward. McKeever, who has spent decades working as a carriage driver, strongly contested the charges, calling them “ridiculous” and emphasized he has never been accused of abusing a horse during his career.

Brown horse named Ryder in a stable. — Ryder the carriage horse collapsed on a city street and passed away months later. Robert Miller

After the verdict was announced, McKeever was overcome with emotion, sobbing before turning to the courtroom gallery, smiling, and giving a thumbs-up. Speaking to the media afterward, he expressed his commitment to his profession, stating, “I’ve been doing it 40 years, and I’ll be going back. It’s my life. I’ve been doing it my whole life.”