The Carriage Horses
Besides being family members, our carriage horses are our partners. We invest a lot of time and money in them -- don't think for a minute that they are expendable, like putting a new engine in a taxi cab! As a company we put time and energy into expensive training. Beyond the high cost of good horses, we keep them well fed and supplemented so that they stay in good health. You can't spend this much time with animals and not love them, and become attached to them.
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At Work and at Play the Carriage Horses are kept in top health. These creatures are adored, and lovingly attended. People are often amazed at the level of care the carriage horses receive. To the RIght - Dixie is getting a massage. Yes, we use a variety of techniques to maintain the health of our horses, including massage therapy. |
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To the Left - The carriage horses are waiting for the vet. Each year the horses are given full exams, including weight and body conditioning.
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Other Questions about the Carriage Horses...
The carriage horses are gentle giants that love being doted on. Besides being bathed almost every day, the horses are constantly monitored for changes in their health and temperament. These big guys have their teeth checked regularly, because they can develop sharp, jagged edges that interfere with their eating. Their feet are kept trimmed and shod so that they pronate correctly and comfortably--like a human having a good pair of comfortable shoes. We check them for other signs of stress through their behavior and body alignment, to be sure they are comfortable--they carry a lot of weight on four legs. Without this level of care, It really would be almost inhumane to turn these animals, who love the human attention and interaction, out into a pasture without a job and human interaction.
Some animal rights activists argue that carriage horses would be better-off turned out into a tranquil pasture filled with wildflowers. While this is a noble notion, it isn't true, and would be harmful to the horses because: 1) they can't eat wildflowers, they need quality grass, 2) their feet and teeth need regular attention, which is costly, and 3) the horses enjoy human interaction. Plus, like other livestock, without exercise, they will eat plentiful grass until they become unhealthy and obese--the horse version of a couch potato!
Some activists post photos of bored horses standing while waiting for a fare-- and they probably are bored! But they'd also be bored in a pasture standing under a tree day after day in a pasture. The point is that while no job is perfect, these creatures get huge amounts of love, attention, and interaction when they're working and when they're relaxing in their barn stalls.
- What about the heat? The San Antonio Carriage ordinance prohibits horses from being outside of the barn when the temperature at the King William Weather Station, closest to downtown, is about 95 degrees. During Ozone Action days, the horses are not allowed to be outside of the barn until 8:30 pm, regardless of temperature. In these instances, tourists to San Antonio braving the heat and fumes riding on scooters through downtown San Antonio are far more exposed to adverse conditions than our carriage horses.
- What about pulling a heavy carriage? If you follow this link to a man pulling a carriage, you will see a 210 lb man pulling a loaded carriage. It is easy to surmise that if a 210# human can pull a carriage, it's okay for a 1600# horse to pull.
The carriage horses are gentle giants that love being doted on. Besides being bathed almost every day, the horses are constantly monitored for changes in their health and temperament. These big guys have their teeth checked regularly, because they can develop sharp, jagged edges that interfere with their eating. Their feet are kept trimmed and shod so that they pronate correctly and comfortably--like a human having a good pair of comfortable shoes. We check them for other signs of stress through their behavior and body alignment, to be sure they are comfortable--they carry a lot of weight on four legs. Without this level of care, It really would be almost inhumane to turn these animals, who love the human attention and interaction, out into a pasture without a job and human interaction.
Some animal rights activists argue that carriage horses would be better-off turned out into a tranquil pasture filled with wildflowers. While this is a noble notion, it isn't true, and would be harmful to the horses because: 1) they can't eat wildflowers, they need quality grass, 2) their feet and teeth need regular attention, which is costly, and 3) the horses enjoy human interaction. Plus, like other livestock, without exercise, they will eat plentiful grass until they become unhealthy and obese--the horse version of a couch potato!
Some activists post photos of bored horses standing while waiting for a fare-- and they probably are bored! But they'd also be bored in a pasture standing under a tree day after day in a pasture. The point is that while no job is perfect, these creatures get huge amounts of love, attention, and interaction when they're working and when they're relaxing in their barn stalls.