Spooked carriage horse leaves New York - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

Spooked carriage horse leaves New York

The New York Horse and Carriage Association says an incident a few weeks back was too much for a horse named Oreo. He's leaving New York City.

Oreo proudly walked thru his West side stable for the last time on Wednesday. He's headed for greener pastures in Massachusetts.

The New York Horse and Carriage Association says it would be too much for Oreo to stay working in Central Park. The association says the draft horse was traumatized two weeks ago when he was spooked by construction work.

Oreo took off, throwing and injuring two Australian passengers and his driver.

Amateur video captured the 6-year-old-horse being reined in by NYPD mounted police.

Some say it's an example of why carriage horses should be banned in our city.

Not the case, insists Pamela Rickenbach, who says horses need to work to stay healthy physically and mentally. She runs the farm Oreo is headed to, and insists New York City horses are among the most well-adjusted animals she deals with.

The New York Horse and Carriage Association gave us video that it claims shows one of its drivers assaulted by activists who want horses off the streets. 

The association said that driver defended himself and struck back at his attacker, who wound up in the hospital.

The carriage association says it plans to press charges.