Horse-carriage activists pressure New York mayor Bill de Blasio to ban carriage horses

NEW YORK -- A group of New Yorkers are putting Mayor Bill de Blasio's feet to the fire for what they say is reneging on his campaign promise to ban carriage horses.

They rallied Tuesday near the mayor's Gracie Mansion home, saying he's taken no action eight months into his term.

Brian Gari, a member of the Coalition to Ban Horse-Drawn Carriages, says the animals are getting hurt and spooked on streets and some spend nights standing in narrow stalls.

About two dozen activists lined up behind police barricades to the mournful sound of a bagpipe.

They say they worked hard to get de Blasio elected, and believed he'd act quickly against the carriage trade.

A call for comment from the mayor was not immediately returned.