A Central Park carriage horse ran into busy Manhattan traffic with three screaming passengers in tow after he became spooked by an umbrella opening.

The horse, identified as Arthur, was drinking water near Central Park South when the umbrella was opened by an individual who the New York Daily News reports was also screaming.

He threw off his driver after hearing the sound and ran straight into two-way traffic on Sixth Avenue on Sunday around 1pm.

A Central Park carriage horse apparently became spooked by a person opening an umbrella and ran into traffic. Pictured: Aftermath

The horse, named Arthur, threw off his driver. His three screaming passengers (right) remained on board during the incident and were later taken to a hospital for minor injuries

Arthur eventually collided with parked cars and a yellow taxi van

Credit: Stopping NYC Horse Abuse

'When you open the umbrella, there is the sound, so the horse was scared, and he made a U-turn,' a witness told animal rights group NYCLASS.

The witness added that the horse was running against traffic.

'Thank God it was a red light,' another witness said.

The horse ended up between a row of parked cars and a yellow taxi van. Multiple vehicles were damaged.

'I just dropped my customer on the corner and... by this time I heard the sound from behind,' the taxi driver said.

He added that the entire incident seemed to happen in 'one second'.

'When you open the umbrella, there is the sound, so the horse was scared, and he made a U-turn,' a witness told animal rights group NYCLASS. 'Thank God it was a red light,' another witness said

'I just dropped my customer on the corner and... by this time I heard the sound from behind,' the taxi driver said

One witness said it took five people including the horse's driver to calm the horse down.

Meanwhile, the three passengers were screaming 'help, help'.

All three were conveyed to an area for treatment for minor injuries.

It is not known whether the horse will receive treatment.

The organization's executive director told the New York Daily News: 'It is now clearer than ever that the city’s antiquated horse carriage rules endanger anyone who visits, lives, or works in New York City.'

Carriage industry spokesperson Christina Hansen told the Daily News: 'That every single accident we have is considered news is a testament to the safety of our industry.'