The rights and wrongs of the horse-drawn carriages that carry tourists around New York's Central Park have been loudly debated for years, but the mayor has signalled they may be at the end of the track.

Critics say the animals suffer, pointing to deadly collapses and dangerous escapes, while advocates point to the jobs they create and the heritage they uphold.

The rides, which cost $150 for 45 minutes to several hundred dollars for a marriage proposal (no refunds), are popular with visitors to the Big Apple's most famous natural attraction, which draws 42 million people annually.

Native New Yorkers however have been calling for the rides to banned "for so long," according to animal rights campaign group PETA's outreach director, Ashley Byrne.

The group leading the charge against touris

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