This week Roger, the 21-year-old American saddlebred-Belgian mix, retired from his work as a carriage horse in Central Park. Apart from working in Central Park for 17 years, he has had an illustrious on-screen career and gained fans and followers from appearances in feature films and TV shows like 'Sex & the City' and Law & Order.'
Ian McKeever rescued the horse when he found him on an Amish farm in the late 1990s. The horse was emaciated and headed to auction and the slaughterhouse.
Roger took his last tour of the park pulling his owner, his owner's wife, Geraldine, and their three children, Jack, Kacie and James.
McKeever, who also owns six other carriage horses, dismisses allegations from animal rights groups that drivers are abusive by explaining, "We take fantastic care of our horses. If we didn't, he wouldn't be able to do this for 17 years."
Roger will live out his retirement on a farm in Syosset, L.I., 10 miles from the McKeevers' home.
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Photo Credit: NY Daily News.