Horse drawn carriage

I really wanted to have a horse drawn carriage as our send-off, but the quotes I got averaged $600! We are spending the night at our venue (bed and breakfast) so the carriage would just be going around the block and bringing us back to the venue. As much as I would like it, I just can't justify the expense.

I agree that horse-draw carriages are exploiting the horses, and that's not romantic to me. @kim that's not relevant because we have cars now so horse travel isn't necessary. It's actually pretty selfish.

@OP when looking into the wellbeing of the horses, try to include 3rd party sources and not just the companies that profit from using them. In general, the more the horses suffer, the more money they make.

If it is something you have wanted as part of your wedding and can afford it into the budget and can find a vendor who treats the horses good Then I say go for it

, I think asking a horse to pull is not any more cruel then asking a dog to hunt or a collie to heel or a bird to fly. They are breed for it.

I know horses who love doing it, pulling, jumping, running, horses will cut cattle on their own without a rider also. They are breed for a job and they are good at it, it'll make them happy. As long as they are treated well and cared for properly I see no issues with it. Can they sour? Sure. Can they have the wrong job? Absolutely. But horses love having a job. Of you can't catch them.. You know you haven't found the right job.

But keep in mind, they are working animals. They need jobs. Many can and will develop poor and often dangerous habits if they don't have jobs.

Thanks...signes a Responsible horse owner and trainer for almost fifteen years.

I used to live close to Colonial Williamsburg. I saw this once, but the weather was warmer. I remember thinking how completely beautiful the couple looked. (I was not a guest, just saw it as they were going down the street). PP have given you lots of things to consider before deciding. No other input other than that.

This is relevant so I thought I'd just post it for anyone interested

http://youtu.be/_34TSZwbxD8

Littlefoot- So the Amish are selfish for using horses instead of cars?

Just saying that your wedding is a year from today, and it was 7 degrees when I woke up this morning.

Not that you shouldn't do it, but damn, it will be frickin' freezing. And if the weather is bad at all, I'm not sure a horse and carriage would make it through a blizzard.

Tacky and immature. Sorry Emily, but then again if it was free I probably would have done it out of sight of guests for pictures.