Have questions about our horses or our carriage service? This is the page to look through! We get lots of questions, so we have tried to compile the most common ones here!
What breed of horses do you use?
Due to our recent move, we currently maintain one Gypsy Vanner mare, Grace. Grace is trained to ride and drive, and regularly pulls our cart, carriage, and single-horse farm implements.
How big are your horses?
Grace is very large for a GV, and stands 16 hands tall. She also eats a lot! During the heavier work seasons, she eats about 3/4 bale of hay, in addition to a few supplements and random treats each day. She also drinks between 20-40 gallons of water each day, dependent on workload and temperature.
May I pet and photograph the horses?
Although Grace loves people and being petted, we respectfully ask that you not touch her until you have the driver’s permission. This allows the driver the opportunity to safely position the horse and park the wagon/carriage. You are, however, welcome to photograph the horse at any time, as long as you respect any request of the driver to ensure everyone’s safety.
Do the horses like to work?
We certainly believe so! Draft horses were bred to work in harness for long days. As a result of selective breeding over many generations, the temperaments of these horses are perfectly suited for the job, and the horses absolutely thrive. In-harness work stimulates their minds, and gives them much needed exercise to keep them in good physical condition. A good work load helps prevent the horses from being "couch potatoes" and turns them into fit, well-rounded "athletes." They thrive and enjoy routine, and are much more relaxed after a good day of working. Our horses often meet us at the gate, love to be haltered and groomed, and when they feel their harnesses go on, they know it is time to work and thus turn into professionals with an important job to do!
Where do the horses stay when not working?
When they aren't working, our horses are at our farm in Creal Springs, IL. Similar to our last farm, we are designing a "Paddock Paradise" track system, where the horses are free to walk, run, and play to their hearts' content on a continuous track. The track contains everything they need to live as naturally as possible--free-choice hay, minerals, fresh water, sand to roll in, shelter, open areas for sunshine and wooded areas to hide in. It has rolling hills, flat lands, steep inclines, and even a creek! The track is designed to encourage the natural herd behaviors of the wild mustang herds out west (as best we can on limited acreage). Like all the animals on our farm, we aim to keep our horses as happy and natural as possible!
May I ride up front with the driver, or hold the lines of the horses?
Our driver’s primary focus is safety. Therefore, the driver will not allow any riders to hold the lines of the horse or drive the horse for a public event. As a general rule, we also don’t have passengers up front, however, we do make safe exceptions to this rule on occasion (ie a well-behaved birthday child, or the guest of honor at a special event).
Do you shoe your horses?
A horse was created with an amazing hoof that provides all the support, cushion, traction, and even blood-pumping action required. The hoof truly is an amazing part of the horse, and we have learned to value and utilize it to its full design. In fact, if not used properly, metal shoes and hoof nails can damage hooves over time and cause lameness in a horse. Typically, we allow our horses to run barefoot, to ensure their hooves stay in the best condition possible. However, if shoes are required for some reason, whenever possible, we prefer to use rubber Cavallo "boots" that can be removed when not working. Also, during very icy winters or on slick tar roads, specialized traction shoes or rubber boots with studs attached can also be useful.
May I feed the horses a treat?
No. Our horses are very well trained, and are never hand-fed treats when wearing their bridles. This helps ensure they are in a safe, “working” state of mind. Feeding treats while working can also potentially encourage horses to nip at people in search of treats. Don't fret, though, as we feed plenty of treats when they are off duty!
What type of weather could cause the cancellation of an event?
The safety of our horses, drivers, and passengers is always our priority. We can safely drive in snow flurries and rain drizzle. However, temperatures below 20 degrees, above 85 degrees, excessive humidity, thunder, lightning, hard rain, freezing rain, or heavy snow may require cancellation. Slippery, ice or snow-covered surfaces may also require cancellation, dependent on whether our horses have their high-traction “ice” boots on. We have several methods we use to determine whether conditions are safe to work, and tend to error on the side of caution when there is question.
How far will you travel for an event?
Priority is given to areas within a reasonable distance of our farm in Creal Springs, IL. However, we are always willing to discuss your desires, and see if we can arrange a custom price package that includes travel to your area. Most locations outside of Creal Springs, IL require a $2.50/mile (one-way) travel charge.
How do you get the horses and wagon/carriage to an event?
This depends on the event, and how long the horses will be working. For local, Creal Springs events, we may actually hitch the horse and drive the carriage to the event. Our horse loves the drive, and it helps keep her well-conditioned. For longer distances, we transport everything via our custom-built trailer, and then hitch the horse after we arrive.
How do you handle horse urine, manure, or gas?
Horses are live animals, and thus, they do produce waste. Sometimes, at the least expected and least opportune time. That is something everyone must be prepared for. If they urinate, they usually do it while we are resting them. Urine is considered sterile, and just dries or drains from the ground surface like rainwater would. Depending on the location, we may rinse the urine away to decrease any unpleasant odors. Manure is captured in special bags the horses wear under their tails. Most people don’t even notice the bags. We clean out the bags during rest periods. Gas cannot be controlled, and may be passed at the horses’ leisure. You should be prepared for the possibility of the sounds and smells that may occasionally and briefly result. Just remember, all the above are signs of a healthy, functioning, non-stressed, well-fed, horse digestive tract!
Are passengers allowed to tip the driver?
Your contract price is all that is required, but tips are certainly appreciated by the driver! Tips are often a way of showing your appreciation or acknowledging a job well done.
Why is the rate higher for weddings and formal occasions?
While we always take pride in the safety and appearance of our horses, attire, and equipment, a lot of EXTRA effort and preparation is required for special events such as weddings and other formal events. We spend many hours, or even days (depending on the season and occasion) bathing and grooming the horses, cleaning and shining up our harnesses and equipment for your special event, and giving you that flashy, high-class look customized for your formal occasion. We also spend extra time and effort coordinating with the venue, establishing contingency plans, so that we can do everything in our power to make your day memorable.
Why can't I reserve the wagon or carriage for less than one hour?
As much as we would like to be able to offer smaller increments of time for less expense, we just can't. There is a tremendous amount of behind-the-scenes preparation that is involved, and the only compensation we receive is during the time period you require the "finished" result of our efforts. The preparation, efforts, and time involved in our travel is the same for us, whether you need 5 minutes for the perfect photo op, or several hours for rides. The first hour rate reflects this fact, while the discounted rate for subsequent hours helps cover any additional time and efforts based on the formality of the event, and the wear-and-tear on the wagon or carriage.
How big is your trailer?
We use a custom-built gooseneck stock trailer. If you are trying to arrange parking for your event, we require a minimum of 60 linear feet to park and unload horses, plus additional space to turn around, tie and hitch horses. If you have questions about whether your intended location will suffice, feel free to send us the address. We can view it on satellite imagery and tell you our thoughts.
How do you set your pricing for carriage events?
Although we pride ourselves on our rates, and are very competitive within the horse-drawn carriage-for-hire industry, like any business, we still have expenses that we have to cover. In order to offer a carriage service, we have to purchase and maintain horses specially trained for the tasks we ask of them. Not just any "pet" horse will do this. These horses often cost more initially, and training incurs costs. The horses must be maintained year-round, with high-quality food, water, supplements, veterinary care, and labor, unlike a car, which only requires maintenance when being used. We must invest in and maintain a selection of horse-drawn vehicles. We have to invest in specialized, often expensive tack and equipment for the horses, in order to meet city regulations. This can include harness, manure bags and disposal equipment, extra buckets and grooming tools, blankets and coolers for travel and cold days, specialty shoes or boots, etc. In addition, like any business, we have to pay state business license fees, permitting and license fees for many of the cities we work in, purchase specialized signs to meet codes and regulations, as well as other normal business fees such as websites and materials. Since our horses live on a farm rather than in the city, we have to trailer them to most events. This adds the purchase and maintance cost of a specialized truck and trailer to haul the horses, our horse-drawn vehicles, and all our harness and other equipment. Finally, in many locations, we are considered a "vendor" and must pay vendor fees and commissions, based on the services we are providing. There are other costs I didn't even mention here, but the simple fact is, every business has expenses which guides us in setting our prices. By using our horses for other things throughout the year, we are able to keep our prices as low as possible. Suffice it to say, anytime you hire a professional carriage service, you can expect to pay at least several hundred dollars.
What is your payment and cancellation policy?
You can read our detailed Reservation Policies here.
What payment methods do you accept?
We accept cash, check, or credit cards via Paypal or Square. If Paypal is preferred, we must charge an additional 3% to cover the Paypal fees.
