A horse collapsed and died in New York, sparking renewed calls for a ban on carriage rides.

Heart-wrenching footage shows the lifeless equine lying on the streets of Manhattan on August 5.

The incident occurred near the corner of West 51st Street and 11th Avenue, as a 15-year-old mare named Lady was returning from Central Park to Clinton Stables.

Police said officers responded to a 911 call at approximately 2:28 pm, reporting a horse in distress. When they arrived, they found the animal lying on the ground still attached to a carriage.

No arrests have been made, and the investigation remains ongoing.

A deli worker at Farmers Cafe and Market witnessed the collapse. He said: 'The horse was walking normal until it started turning right onto W51st Street from 11th Ave. It then appeared to shake, jump and then fell down on its right side.

'The carriage driver was by himself, and he jumped down to the street and was asking us for help. We didn't know what to do.'

Workers from Clinton Stables arrived with a trailer, but Lady had already died. Police initially prevented them from moving her body.

Christina Hansen, a veteran carriage driver and union steward, confirmed Lady's death, noting that the horse had passed a full veterinary examination and began working in June.

She added: 'Lady was walking home to her stable from Central Park when she suddenly died.'

Christina confirmed a full necropsy would be conducted.

Councilmember Erik Bottcher, who was present at the scene, called the collapse 'yet another example of needless death on the streets of New York' and urged the passage of Ryder's Law, which would phase out horse-drawn carriages by 2026.

Edita Birnkrant of NYCLASS called the incident part of a 'horrifying, repeated pattern of cruelty' and demanded immediate action.

Later that day, staff from Clinton Stables were permitted to load Lady's body into a trailer and return it to the stable, located just a block away.