Philadelphia woman allegedly pulls out skateboard and attacks two horse carriage drivers in Central Park: ‘I’m Squid the Kid, bro’
‘Outrageous and unacceptable.’
A woman from Philadelphia faces assault charges following a chaotic confrontation in Central Park that involved a skateboard and two horse carriage drivers. According to Fox News, Abigail Holbrook, 27, allegedly initiated the physical altercation early on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, near West Drive and 59th Street. Police arrived at the scene shortly after 11.00 a.m. in response to a 911 call regarding the dispute. The incident reportedly began with a heated verbal argument.
Holbrook allegedly targeted the workers while shouting accusations of animal abuse in front of tourists and families visiting the area. Video footage of the scene captured her yelling, “You’re animal abusers! Horses do not do well in New York City. They are very sensitive to light and noise.” She also declared during the outburst, “The people that are f****** using these horses are animal abusers. I’m Squid the Kid, bro. Y’all will know my f****** name.”
According to reports from the Transport Workers’ Union of America (TWU), the situation turned physical when the suspect began striking the workers. Police state that Holbrook punched two 45-year-old drivers in the face. She also allegedly used her skateboard as a weapon, hitting one of the men in the head and shoulder.
Both victims sustained minor injuries during the struggle
The men chose to decline medical treatment at the scene. Law enforcement officials took the suspect into custody, and she now faces two counts of assault. ABC 7 NY states that she has no prior arrest history. This event comes at a time of intense legal and political tension regarding the future of the carriage industry in New York City.
Just last month, the city council voted 40 to 7 to approve a measure known as Romanch’s Law. This legislation aims to phase out horse-drawn carriages completely by June 1, 2028. The law includes provisions for a transition program intended to support the more than 150 drivers and workers currently employed in the industry. The initiative is named in memory of 18-year-old Romanch Mahajan, who died in June after being thrown from a runaway carriage in the park.
Representatives for the carriage drivers expressed strong frustration regarding the safety of their workers. Alexander Kemp, who serves as the Administrative Vice President of TWU Local 100, issued a firm statement following the arrest.
“This is outrageous and unacceptable,” Kemp said. “We need a more visible police presence for our members at horse-carriage stands in the park to protect against these wackos. This is their place of work and people are coming just to harass and attack them. All workers deserve to be safe at work.”
‘A lot of people don’t know anything about horses’
Christina Hansen, a union shop steward who witnessed the assault and contacted the authorities, pointed to the role of rhetoric from advocacy groups in fueling these confrontations. She argued that many people lack basic knowledge about horses and are influenced by extreme claims.
“The problem is that a lot of people, you know, don’t know anything about horses, and they get misled by these animal rights groups who liken it to slavery, and say that the horses are being tortured by being forced to drag heavy carriages around as if carriages don’t have wheels,” Hansen stated.
She further criticized local leadership for their interactions with these groups. “This is what you get when the City Council Speaker praises and poses for photos with extremist organizations like PETA and NYCLASS, whose leaders have lied and vilified us as animal abusers for decades. Their followers, who don’t know a thing about horses, have been brainwashed by these groups’ propaganda and emboldened to lash out,” Hansen noted.
Hansen also emphasized that the financial interests of the drivers depend on the health of the animals. “Let’s face it, these organizations… make money by getting donations and there’s no money to be made by telling people that our horses are well taken care of,” she explained. “I only make money if my horse is well taken care of because I can’t go to work if he can’t pull the carriage, if he doesn’t enjoy his job… so my monetary interest is that my horse is taken care of. Their monetary interest is that the horses are being abused or exploited or whatever.”
Historical context remains a major part of the argument for those who support the carriage trade
Hansen pointed out that these animals have been part of the local scenery for a very long time. “Carriage horses have been pulling carriages in Central Park since the day the park opened in December 1858,” Hansen said. “They’ve been living on Manhattan since 1625. The city would not be the city that it is, and Central Park would not be the park that it is, except for horses.”
In response to the accusations from the union, PETA issued a brief statement regarding the incident. “If the horse-drawn carriage trade is suddenly concerned about hostility and violence, it might start by looking in the mirror,” the group stated.
The industry continues to face significant pressure as the deadline for the phase-out approaches, with both sides remaining deeply divided over the ethics and safety of the practice. For now, the legal process will move forward for the suspect involved in the recent park altercation.
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