carriage horses

New Technology Monitors How Much Weight Carriage Horses Pull

Featured Image Credit: Palmetto Carriage Works

Downtown carriage companies and the City of Charleston have incorporated new technology to closely monitor how much weight horses are pulling.

Instead of having to manually monitor the weight like in the past, the city has now started using new tablets that efficiently and accurately check the number of people on each carriage to ensure that regulations are being followed.

“We already had the ordinance adopted regulating the amount of combined weight, of the carriage and passengers, cannot be more than three times the weight of the horse,” said Daniel Riccio, the Director of the Department of Livability and Tourism for the City of Charleston.

In order to determine how they should measure the weight of each person, Riccio said that they used Federal Aviation Administration Regulations.

“We used the same regulations as the FAA with air travel,” Riccio said. “The FAA has a mandate that all airlines follow, which are averages of passengers, not exact weights, but the averages of the males, females, and children. They even break it down so far as winter weight and summer weight. Winter being the more weight of the passengers.”

But the city has decided to stay on the safe side and go with the higher weight.

“All year round, we are going with the higher winter weight. The average is 195 pounds per person. We went maximum just to ensure the animal can pull all that weight. Even though you’re going to have women and children on there that weigh much less.”

The combination of these regulations and the new technology will allow for carriage workers to simply count the number of passengers in each carriage, enter it into the tablet and determine whether or not each carriage is holding the appropriate weight.

Ricco says that with the new technology in place there are no excuses for breaking these regulations.

“If a carriage were to come up to the gate and have 17 people total with the driver – and it surely indicates on there that there can only be 12, then we have an issue,” Riccio said.

Riccio added that any violation of the tourism ordinance would result in a maximum fine of $1,087 or a 30-day jail sentence.

However, at this point in time, there have been no issues reported and Riccio assures that the city and carriage companies are doing their job to keep the horses and the public safe from these concerns.

“We feel confident with the information we are providing to the public is accurate and they can trust that we are doing what we’re supposed to be doing to make sure the animals are safe,” Riccio said.

Learn more from our source.

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Local Carriage Companies Donate $3,000 In Support Of L.E.A.R.N. Horse Rescue

Featured Image Credit: C.A.R.E.S.

Today, Charleston Carriage Association for Responsible Equine Safety (C.A.R.E.S.) announced its three member companies, Palmetto Carriage Works, Charleston Carriage Works, and Old South Carriage Company, will donate the $3,000 necessary to save the two malnourished horses in the care of Livestock and Equine Awareness and Rescue Network Horse Rescue (L.E.A.R.N.) in Meggett, South Carolina.

L.E.A.R.N. Horse Rescue cares for over 30 horses and has recently added two more to their population, Spirit and Bailey. These horses were found starving and in severe condition in Hampton County. In need of financial support, L.E.A.R.N. Horse Rescue sent out a request to the Charleston Animal Society, despite the several denials they have previously endured, in hopes of receiving funds to properly nourish the animals back to health.

After being denied once again, L.E.A.R.N. Horse Rescue was crushed. Morgan Hiott, a longtime member of L.E.A.R.N. said, “It’s understood that [Charleston Animal Society] has received a six-figure grant for rural animals…” In response, the member companies of Charleston C.A.R.E.S. stepped up, donating $3,000 to save Spirit and Bailey. “Our companies are made of people who love horses,” said Tommy Doyle president of Charleston C.A.R.E.S. “When we saw the devastating condition of Spirit and Bailey and then heard they were getting no local support, we knew we had to step up. It’s the right thing to do.”

This isn’t the first time these carriage companies stepped up in a big way to support the animals they care so much about. Back in August 2017, the same three carriage companies came together to help raise money to donate to abused and retired horses. $1 from every ticket sold on a Saturday was donated to local foundations. Palmetto Carriage Works, Charleston Carriage Work, and Old South Carriage Company raised a total of $2,000 dollars for this great cause.

On the contrary, there were around 55 protesters that came out to hold signs that went against the carriage company’s goals for the day. The people protesting were part of Charleston Carriage Horse Advocates, who disagree with carriage tours and believe these horses are provided inadequate working conditions.

Palmetto Carriage Works, Charleston Carriage Works, and Old South Carriage Company formed the group to promote and advocate for the highest standards of care for horses and mules in the Charleston area. With their main concern being the safety, health, and well-being of the horses and mules, they enforce strict standards of care that exceed the federal, state, and local protection laws.

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A Day In The Life Of A Charleston Carriage Horse Barn Hand

Featured Image Credit: Palmetto Carriage Works Facebook

At the Big Red Barn, Palmetto Carriage Works has twenty hand-selected, caring barn hands. This is a team full of well trained, knowledgeable, and dedicated people who take the animals care as seriously as their employers do.

A barn hands daily responsibilities are feeding, grooming, harnessing, and hitching twenty-five or more horses and mules. In a week a single horse can go through about 2-3 bales of hay plus about 8 quarts of grain per serving (on average two serving per day). Throughout the day a barn hand tends to many horses and mules, on average grooming a horse takes 7-10 minutes, of course, the condition of the horse can affect that time. Some horses need a full bath in the mornings, while others can just be brushed and are ready to go.

After cleaning, a barn hand would dress the horse in dray (its harness). Putting on their collar and collar pad first, then they would put on the actual harness. Because they use a floating style harness, it is all one piece making it slightly easier to put it on. The hames sit on their collar and then are buckled at the bottom. Once the hames are buckled, the girth (the band around the belly) is fastened and the remainder of the harness is stretched out over their back. Lastly, the bridle is placed on their head.

Again, each horse is different, the horse may be incredibly stubborn, making it much harder to complete this process, while others may be incredibly laid back and let you put on the harness with ease. Most barn hands have their own way of connecting with the animals, some barn hands find that when the animal willingly takes the bit when placing the bridle is a sign of companionship.

Each day in the life of a barn hand can be incredibly different. They always have to expect the unexpected, but they have great patience and a gentle persistence that is key to interacting with the animals.

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Busting Common Myths About Charleston Carriage Horses

Featured Image Credit: Blake Williams

Misinformation about carriage horses is rampant in Charleston. People often talk about the issue without having any facts to back up their stances. Well, we’re here to help with that. We’re taking on common myths about carriage horses and busting them with the truth. So, educate yourself on this hot-button issue before you get into that spirited debate. Oh, and don’t forget to resist the Russian trolls!

Image Credit: Blake Williams

Myth: Carriage Horses Work No Matter the Weather

Erroneous! While horses and mules have the ability to adapt to the weather, they’re not asked to perform in extreme weather conditions…and that includes extreme heat. We know it gets hot down here in the summer and the caretakers of our four-legged friends know what to look out for when it comes to an overheated horse. At Palmetto Carriage Works, they take each horse’s temperature after every tour to make sure they are within the normal range. If the horse even approaches having an above normal temperature, they are pulled from working. And if a day reaches 95 degrees or the heat index is 110, there are no tours.

Myth: Carriage Horses Work Long Hours Without Breaks

Lies! The number of hours a horse is allowed to work in a row is highly regulated by the city of Charleston. Palmetto Carriage Works’ horses and mules typically work a five hour day. Plus, the horses get at least a 15-minute break between tours to rest and drink water. And when they’re not working, they have plenty of space in their stalls to eat and relax.

Image Credit: Palmetto Carriage Works & Palmetto Tours Facebook

Myth: Carriage Horses are Made to Carry Backbreaking Loads

Nope! Even a fully loaded carriage isn’t hard for a horse or mule to pull, especially in teams. The tourism committee recently determined that even on a full carriage ride, it would be almost impossible for a carriage to exceed the city’s weight limit due to logistical issues. In Charleston, the weight of the carriages is restricted to a maximum of three times the horse’s weight. While all carriage companies must adhere to this ordinance, it is possible for the horses to pull much more than this. But don’t get all worked up just yet. To give you an idea of just how much weight carriage horses can pull, a regular horse can easily pull a wheeled vehicle that is six times its own weight. Since the average weight of a draft horse is about 1,400-2,000 pounds, that means that one of the larger horses could easily pull up to 12,000 pounds on a wheeled vehicle. A typical carriage load is FAR less than that, and the horses, on average, work five hours per day with breaks.

Myth: Carriage Horses Are Easily Spooked and Dangerous

False! It’s true that horses are firmly in the “flight” camp when it comes to the “fight or flight” response, but Charleston carriage horses aren’t just ordinary horses. They’re highly trained animals that adapt easily to their environments. They know how to deal with pedestrians, cars, sirens, yelling, and other loud noises. Things that might make a typical horse bolt don’t ruffle these quadrupeds.

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Palmetto Carriage Works Is Keeping It Cool

Featured Photo: Palmetto Carriage Works

If you’re from the Charleston area you’re probably well aware that the welfare of carriage horses and mules has been a heated topic of conversation of the past year. Palmetto Carriage Works considers their animals as part of the family and makes it a priority to keep the horses and mules happy and healthy.

One of the biggest topics in the carriage horse issue is how is it safe for the horses to work in Charleston’s insane high temperatures during the summer? Well, Palmetto Carriage Works takes multiple precautions to keep their animals safe during the Charleston summers.

Image Credit: Palmetto Carriage Works/ Facebook

First, they make sure all of the horses get plenty of water and breaks at the barn between tours – this happens all the time, but it amplified during the summer. Their staff is also always monitoring the temperature.

Once the outside temperatures reach 95 degrees, or the heat index reaches 110, all carriage tours are halted until the temperatures drop. This rule makes sure that the horses and mules are never working in conditions that could lead to overheating. Palmetto Carriage Works also takes the temperature of each individual animal after each tour – this helps ensure that the animals are safe and healthy.

You are probably wondering, what is an unsafe temperature for the animals to have? If at any time the animal’s temperature reads more than 102.9 degrees, the animal does not go back to work until he/she has cooled off to the appropriate temperature range.

Image Credit: Palmetto Carriage Works/ Facebook

Charleston is one of the only recorded cities in the world that pays attention to the temperature and health of their animals. Because Palmetto Carriage Works takes the time to monitor their animals so closely they have not had a heat-related incident in over 30 years.

Palmetto Carriage Works cares about every one of their employees in the same way, whether they have two legs or four.

News

Woman in Dinosaur Costume Startles Charleston Carriage Horses

City Nixes Charges On Dinosaur Costume Wearing Woman Who Startled Charleston Carriage Horses

Featured Image Credit: Palmetto Carriage Works & Palmetto Tours Facebook

On Wednesday, city prosecutors dropped two charges against the woman who was accused of scaring two Charleston carriage horses while wearing a dinosaur costume.

In May, witnesses alleged that Nicole Wells, in a Tyrannosaurus rex costume, approached a Palmetto Carriage Works carriage with 16 passengers on board. Even after warnings by Van Sturgeon, who was operating the carriage, that she was upsetting the horses, Wells refused to move.

The carriage jackknifed and Sturgeon was thrown to the ground. One of the wheels on the carriage rolled over his right leg, breaking his foot. The other passengers were not injured. The horses, Yogi and Boo Boo, were also unharmed, though they were spooked

It’s unfortunate that the City of Charleston does not take harassment of Charleston carriage horses working downtown seriously. Health and safety are paramount to the carriage companies and Charleston has let the horses down. This decision paves the way for more incidents like this to happen.

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Charlestonians Can Stop Worrying About Carriage Horses

Featured Image Credit: Charleston CVB

We love living in Charleston. There’s no other place we’d rather be. But, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t plenty of problems here. But we’re here to tell you…carriage horses aren’t one of those problems. It’s official, you can stop worrying about the well being of carriage horses downtown. There are more pressing issues to deal with.

First of all, these are the kinds of horses and mules that are meant to work. They come from hardy stock and they actually like having a purpose. Many of them come from working farms, some of them from Amish communities. Compared to the day in and day work on a farm, pulling a carriage with tires down a paved road is a pretty good gig.

Image Credit: Palmetto Carriage Works/ Facebook

We’ve all seen the shocking videos of horses “collapsing” on downtown streets. These videos are so misleading. Horses and mules pulling Charleston carriages don’t collapse from overwork; sometimes they simply trip…just like humans. It’s just jarring to see such a large animal fall. After such an incident, a horse or mule is thoroughly checked out by an equine veterinarian. The animal doesn’t return to work until the vet and staff are absolutely sure nothing is wrong.

These horses and mules are not only well looked after when there is a small incident, they are given the utmost care every day. They see a vet, an equine dentist, and a farrier on a regular basis. This ensures that their in good health and well shod at all time. When working, the temperature of the horses is taken after every tour. And if a horse is overheated it doesn’t go back out to work until it has cooled down. And if the temperature outside surpasses a certain point, the horses don’t work. And they get breaks throughout the day at their barn regardless of the weather or their temperature. So…it’s time to move on. We have bigger fish to fry.

Image Credit: Palmetto Carriage Works/ Facebook

Housing in Charleston has become a nightmare. As more people pour into the city seeking some of that Conde Nast perfection, the available housing becomes even more limited. This causes rents and property values to spike so only the wealthiest on the peninsula can reside there. This isn’t just happening in Charleston proper either, it’s expanding to the suburbs of West Ashley, James Island, and Mount Pleasant. Even Summerville and North Charleston are becoming too pricey for some. Making housing in Charleston affordable should be at the forefront of minds.

Airbnb is another problem that Charlestonians might want to turn their attention to. While it seems like a convenient way for travelers to find a place to stay in the city, it’s also detrimental to Charleston and its residents. With a limited number of properties in the city, turning an apartment or house into a short-term rental makes the remaining properties more expensive. The city also loses out on hotel tax. And residents who want to live in neighborhoods and have actual neighbors are surrounded by tourists. Regulations need to be put in place to regulate this.

Image Credit: Palmetto Carriage Works/ Facebook

Along with the new residents and visitors comes increased traffic. People who came to Charleston thinking they were moving to a small city are now experiencing big city traffic. Interstates 26 and 526 are routinely bumper to bumper. And while rush hour is a total bust commute wise, it seems that no matter what time of day you hit the road you’re packed on the road with a million other motorists. Like the housing issue, traffic is creeping into the suburbs as well, making it hard to commute around the Lowcountry. Measures need to be taken to relieve some of this traffic.

Guest Columns

Video: Seven Facts About The Care Of Palmetto Carriage Works Horses

Featured Image Credit: Facebook/ Palmetto Carriage Works

It’s no secret that carriage tours are a popular activity in Charleston for both tourists and locals. The horses pulling the carriages may very well be the city’s best ambassadors! If they could talk, we’re sure they could pretty much tell us anything about the history of Charleston, because they listen to it and learn about it every single day!

It’s also not a secret that the support for the carriage industry has declined over the last couple years. People have become skeptical about the care for the horses and the intentions of the carriage industries. But carriage rides are an important part in Charleston tourism and the horses play a vital role. Benjamin Doyle of Palmetto Carriage Works knows that better than just about anyone, since Palmetto Carriage Works is the oldest carriage company in Charleston.

Most often the animals coming to Palmetto Carriage Works have retired from pulling plows all day, usually in Pennsylvania’s Amish country. They semi-retire to Charleston – as so many from that area do – and take up work pulling carriages. The work days are shorter and the loads are a whole lot lighter.

These horses are like family to the carriage companies. They are treated just like you would treat a loved one or a family member. While the horses may not get a paycheck, they get plenty of vacation time and a health care package to boot (or should we say horseshoe?) Doyle carefully selects horses and mules that are gentle, can tolerate traffic and noise as well as Charleston’s warm and humid climate.

Check out what exactly goes into caring for the carriage horses in this awesome video from Palmetto Carriage Works Facebook page.

The Big Red Barn is open to the public and Doyle is happy to show visitors around and explain the process for caring for the animals. Stop by and check it out at 8 Guignard St. near the City Market. Hours are 9 a.m .to 4 p.m. Monday to Sunday.