Besides being family members, our wagon horses are our partners. We gladly invest a lot of time and money in them. In addition to weekly grooming and hoof care and feed they sometimes need dental and vet care. Of course they are exercised on a regular basis.
Other Questions about our Horses
Some animal rights activists argue that any horse would be better off turned out to pasture to "live like a horse". While this is a noble notion, it isn't as wonderful as it first sounds. Think about the wild mustang herd. When a member becomes sick or old it is usually eaten. There is no dental or vet care in the wild. Furthermore, our animals are cared for and I believe they enjoy the human interaction. I also believe they enjoy having a job. I know that I truly enjoy the bond the horses and I have. We enjoy bringing the Western experience to people.
- What breed are your horses? We usually use a pair of Haflinger horses. They are an older breed of horse and very healthy. They are stocky, strong, and happy to pull a wagon. This breed is kind, likes the attention of people, and are generally a very healthy breed.
We sometimes utilize a friend's mules when the time is right. We usually have a pair of horses or mules pulling our wagons but sometimes you will see four mules in front of our wagon. The mules we use are Belgian cross mules and much bigger than our Haflinger horses. Take a peek at our Photo and Video Gallery to see our horses and mules. - What about pulling a heavy wagon? A 200-pound man can pull a carriage. If you go to the below web page (YouTube search for Man Pulling Horse Carriage) you will see a 210 lb man pulling a loaded carriage. Most horse drawn vehicles roll rather easily and I can move my wagon around on flat ground. If I can move the wagon, then I believe it is okay for two horses weighing 1,000 pounds each.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQHesvabpl4 - Can they work in the cold and the heat? In Texas we watch the heat index which looks at the temperature and relative humidity. Before the heat index reaches 150 we bring our horses in and do not work them. This guideline is set by the Bandera ordinance and mimics the San Antonio ordinance to keep people and animals safe in the heat. You can see the picture of the horses and Debra cooling off in the Medina River and having fun after working in town. As far as the cold, the Haflinger breed originated in the mountains of what is now Italy. They grow longer hair in the winter and weather the cold very well.
Some animal rights activists argue that any horse would be better off turned out to pasture to "live like a horse". While this is a noble notion, it isn't as wonderful as it first sounds. Think about the wild mustang herd. When a member becomes sick or old it is usually eaten. There is no dental or vet care in the wild. Furthermore, our animals are cared for and I believe they enjoy the human interaction. I also believe they enjoy having a job. I know that I truly enjoy the bond the horses and I have. We enjoy bringing the Western experience to people.