Would like to include my horse in my wedding- any advice?

I don't have experience with it. However, I think you should do it. Why not? It's YOUR day!!

I show hunter jumper competitively and own my own barn full of horses so nice to see another horse lover on here! Realistically, the horse would probably not be THAT big of an issue however some various complications might make it hard. I would recommend riding the horse for bridal portraits/engagement photo session and even doing a quick few photos during the wedding if she is boarded or located on site (you get pics with him/her in your wedding dress). The potential liability for having the horse get nervous with processional music, 100+ people, weird footing on the aisle etc is what would worry me more than a potential rare allergy personally. So just keep those ideas in mind!

Good points.. we would have training sessions and desensitize her to a few things before the day but you always need to expect the unexpected with horses. One venue i was browsing has stalls on site but because she may get nervous in an unfamiliar place I'll probably have her hauled back home after pictures.

A cool idea I always wanted to do - living near the coast and all - once you are done with the dress if you are open to "trash the wedding dress" - do a photo session on the beach with your horse. Would get some fabulous pictures.

Someone in my town had a groomshorse! It was really cute, he had a tux and everything. I'm from a small hick town, so this isn't as weird to me as it may be for others.

I would say you should go down the isle on her and have your dad leading her (if he is walking you, or whomever is walking you). That would be a fairy tale-like entrance. You can hand her off to a bridesmaid who could turn her around and keep her happy until the ceramony is over. It's been done a few times in my area and it's really cute (to me).

I think you understand my mindset here... trash the dress is a thought.. trust me barns are not clean! I barrel race and I've pictured a barrel run afterward to "trash the dress".

Ok so I don't feel quite so crazy now! my dad isn't a horse person so i was hoping to have my sister lead her down (my sister will be a bridesmaid)

This is something i pinned years ago. It's a bride on the barrel pattern.

You could do a Runaway Bride type thing, ride your horse during the ceremony. Or ride off on the horse after the ceremony or reception ends.

OP its clear that some people commenting arent horse people haha. I love the idea but you would need to have someone you trusted to trailer your girl and hold her and pick up waste. As for the smell (horse people love it)... as long as a bath day prior you should be good.

I've done a lot of weddings with Barats, where the groom comes to the wedding on a horse, but the horse doesn't go down the aisle. Also horses and carriages, again, not down the aisle.

I think the photos before are a great idea. Actually being part of the processional? Not so much.

Crowds aren't the same as events.

Unless your horse has going through also me sort of actual training this is an egregiously bad idea.

Do separate pictures with your horse before or after the event.

The logistics of handle an animal at an event like this require 100 focus on the horse and what's going on. This will not be you.

You will be giddy. Euphoric and highly distracted.

Which means someone else has to do it someone you idly care about. Now your friend or family member is working.

Or. You had to pay a barn friend. Which still sucks.

And the poop bags are not that streamline... And requires a horse to be trained to have one. They don't just get strapped to the back and away we go.

Usually takes a month or two for a good horse to train them with a crupper. No difference here.

It's a bad idea.

I think e-shoots or bridal portraits with your horse would be stunning!!

I love the idea of photos, I've played with the idea of having my dog involved with the ceremony, however the thought I keep having is that someone will have to take care of him ill be worrying more about him than a ctually enjoying the day. I'd recommend involving your horse with engagement pictures and bridal photos (after the wedding) might be the best option here.

Does FH ride horses as well? Maybe as a send off you could ride off "into the sunset" or what not.

Also, I love the idea of having your horse in some of your bridal photos! Here's one I found on Pinterest, but there are tons!

Definitely do photos with the horse! I absolutely love that idea. When I read your idea about including the horse in the ceremony I was like "OMG THAT SOUNDS AMAZING!"

But based on what PP have said, maybe it's not a good idea... what a bummer, I would love to see pics of that!

My friend owns Five Filles Farm which is about an hour outside of Pitt. She rode her horse near at the venue after the ceremony I think but didn't include it in the processional.

Flower girl maybe?

I went to a wedding in Lexington where the bride got married on the farm her dad managed and she grew up on. She rode her horse to the ceremony but not down the aisle. I thought it was a lovely touch because the horse never got too close to the guests, but everyone saw her "arrive" on her best friend. Then, a few people helped her dismount and her dad walked her down the aisle the "normal" way.

I will say, though, that her horse was an elderly gelding who was a "seen it all" kinda guy and even he got jittery and started dancing and prancing which made me a littler nervous for her. Thankfully her dad is a skilled horseman so there was never any real risk, but I would wonder about a younger mare in the same situation.

With that said, I am a horse girl and a little part of me is VERY jealous if you can make this work! (My horse lives with my mom 3000 miles away and also he's a nutcase and people would die if I tried.) Depending on the venue it's obviously possible, but I'd be very picky about the set up if you're serious.

I love my horses dearly - But I wouldn't bring mine to my wedding

1) Logistics are a pain - who will transport? Its rude to make your guests work on your wedding day plus someone would have to miss part of the festivities to bring her back - and I wouldn't trust just any stranger to haul my horses

2) your venue most likely won't allow it - horses are a HUGE liability

3) My horses are basically bomb proof- parades, trails, screaming children - you name it. But again - he is a HORSE with a mind of its own and even the most experienced people and seasoned horses have incidents where the horse spooks and the rider takes a fall - It happens with horses. Would you want that on your wedding day? What would you do if your horse spooked INTO your crowd of guests and someone got hurt?

This is a bad idea

E-pics, bridal pics, or trash the dress pics are a much better idea