A New York City carriage horse handler was found not guilty Monday in his animal abuse trial. 

Ian McKeever, 57, was accused of overdriving, torturing and injuring animals after a horse named Ryder collapsed in Hell's Kitchen during the summer of 2022. He pleaded not guilty. 

The jury began deliberating shortly after 10 a.m. Monday and they returned a verdict within the hour. McKeever sobbed as the verdict came down, then was seen smiling and nodding his head. 

McKeever speaks out

McKeever spoke out after the verdict. 

"I'm in this business 40 years, and I've never, ever abused a horse in my life," McKeever said. "This has been a terrible three years for me. Everybody was looking at me like I was an abuser of a horse, and it just killed me." 

One of the six jurors said deliberations were difficult. 

"I had a hard time taking passion and emotion, removing that from this case and seeing it from the facts that were presented to us," juror Tracy Winston said. 

Winston spoke to McKeever after the verdict. 

"If you knew that horse was sick, you would not have taken him out that day?" Winston asked. 

"Absolutely not," McKeever said. 

Winston said he understands the verdict may upset some, including animal rights activists pushing for the passage of "Ryder's Law," which would wind down the horse carriage industry. 

"Very disappointed, obviously, but not surprised because this just shows how outdated and ineffective the animal cruelty laws are in New York state," Edita Brinkrant of NYCLASS said. 

The judge warned jurors the horse carriage industry itself was not on trial, just that particular incident. 

"You know, anytime a horse is on the ground, like, lying down, it looks bad. But if people understand horses, this happens, and our priority is to get the horse up," McKeever said. "I didn't know he had cancer. I didn't know he was sick." 

McKeever said his family has been threatened and he hasn't worked in two years, but he will get back on the horse carriage again. He said now that he's been found not guilty, he's not concerned about being seen in Central Park. 

"All animals deserve to be treated with the utmost of care"

"We will only accept humane care for all carriage horses, including proper medical care and treatment. Since this incident, the union has made several important reforms and improvements, including ongoing talks with a nationally recognized horse veterinarian, immediate access to a horse hospital, and increased oversight," TWU Local 100 shop steward Christina Hansen said. "Carriage drivers like me enter this line of work because we love animals, want to spend all day with horses, and care deeply about them. Animal rights extremists have viciously vilified all carriage drivers, most of whom are immigrants or children of immigrants chasing their American dream. That needs to stop."

A spokesperson for the Manhattan district attorney's office released a statement after the verdict and encouraged the public to report any animal abuse cases to 212-335-9040.

"All animals deserve to be treated with the utmost of care. I thank the jury for dedicating their time to hear the evidence presented to them over these past five days. I also want to thank our prosecutors for presenting a thorough case based on the facts and evidence," the statement read. 

The president of Voters for Animal Rights calls the industry an "outdated, cruel tourist trap." 

McKeever described the day Ryder collapsed

Prosecutors alleged Ryder collapsed after working a full day in 84-degree weather, and that McKeever ignored signs of distress. 

McKeever took the stand to testify in his own defense, saying it was actually "a very slow day" and Ryder had only completed two trips. He said the horse tripped and fell as they were changing lanes on Ninth Avenue. 

He said he slapped Ryder's backside and yanked his bridle to get the horse to stand, adding if a horse is down for too long they can lose circulation and die. 

McKeever said he's seen horses fall some 25 to 30 times but only seen a horse overheat once or twice during his 40 years of working with the animals. 

"Of course most important thing in my possession is the horse. His health and his care is the most important thing to me," McKeever testified.   

Ryder was euthanized in October 2022. A necropsy revealed cancer in several of his organs and T-cell leukemia.

A forensic veterinarian who examined Ryder nearly two months after the fall testified that the leukemia and its effects likely contributed to Ryder's collapse. The vet also said a long day in the heat and Ryder not having enough muscle and fat also contributed, saying the horse "was pushed beyond his limit."