The streets of New York City buzzed with life that afternoon. Cars honked, voices blended into a chorus of sound, and the steady rhythm of hooves striking pavement echoed through the busy blocks. Among those hooves was Ryder, a weary carriage horse who had spent countless days pulling tourists through the city’s heat and noise. For years, he carried the weight of strangers and the heavy harness that bound him to his work. But on that fateful day, his body could no longer endure the strain.

Ryder stumbled, his legs trembling beneath him. Then he collapsed onto the scorching asphalt, his massive frame motionless against the unforgiving pavement. His owner shouted at him to rise, frustration replacing compassion. When Ryder did not move, the man began striking him, trying to force life back

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