An animal rights activist allegedly attacked two horse-drawn carriage drivers in Central Park on Tuesday, using a skateboard during a profanity-filled confrontation witnessed by visiting families, according to union representatives.
Abigail Holbrook, 27, of Philadelphia, was arrested after reportedly shouting at carriage drivers and accusing them of animal abuse near a carriage stand, police and video from the scene show.
In the video, Holbrook can be heard yelling that the drivers were “animal abusers” and claiming that horses do not fare well in New York City because they are highly sensitive to light and noise. She also identified herself as “Squid the Kid” and said people would know her name.
Abigail Holbrook, 27, faces charges after police say she attacked horse-carriage drivers in New York City’s Central Park. (Ali Yildirim)
The Transport Workers Union of America, or TWU, said Holbrook punched both 45-year-old drivers and hit one of them in the head with her skateboard during the confrontation.
The two men sustained minor injuries but declined medical attention at the scene. New York City police arrested Holbrook, who faces two assault charges.
Holbrook allegedly struck one of the drivers with her skateboard during the altercation. (Ali Yildirim)
“This is outrageous and unacceptable,” TWU Local 100 Administrative Vice President Alexander Kemp said in a statement. He called for a stronger police presence at horse-carriage stands in Central Park, saying workers should not face harassment or attacks while on the job.
Christina Hansen, a union shop steward who witnessed the alleged assault and notified police, attributed the hostility to statements from city leaders and animal rights advocates.
Hansen said many people know little about horses and have been influenced by animal rights groups that compare the carriage trade to slavery or claim horses are forced to haul heavy loads, despite the carriages having wheels.
She also argued that carriage drivers have a direct financial incentive to protect their horses’ welfare.
Hansen said she can work only when her horse is healthy and able to pull the carriage, adding that the animal must also be willing to do the job. By contrast, she argued, advocacy groups benefit financially from portraying the horses as abused or exploited.
The confrontation comes as New York City’s carriage industry faces continued legal and political pressure.
Last month, the City Council voted 40-7 to approve Romanch’s Law, named for 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan, who died in June after being thrown from a runaway carriage in Central Park.
The measure would end horse-drawn carriage operations in the city by June 1, 2028, while requiring officials to create a transition program for more than 150 drivers and other industry workers.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, rejected the union’s criticism in a statement to News Media.
Horse-drawn carriages offer rides through Central Park on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)
The organization said that if the horse-carriage industry is concerned about hostility and violence, it should first examine its own role in the ongoing dispute.
Horse-drawn carriages have long been part of the Central Park and Fifth Avenue experience, offering sightseeing rides to tourists visiting New York City.
Hansen said carriage horses have operated in Central Park since the park opened in December 1858 and have lived in Manhattan since 1625. She argued that horses are deeply connected to the history and identity of both New York City and Central Park.