Myths and Facts
Heat
Myth:
Charleston has the most extreme temperature in the United States for carriage horses.
Facts:
Charleston does not even make the top 50 in a list of most extreme temperatures in the US.
More important than the ambient temperature is the horse’s internal temperature and we measure that before and after every tour, 365 days a year.
Myth:
Horses and mules have no shelter from direct sun and can’t access water when they need it.
Facts:
Most touring streets downtown are shaded.
Horses get a MINIMUM 15-min break between tours, but in warmer temperatures we often extend that break. Those breaks are enjoyed under shade, in front of fans and misters, and the horses have access to fresh water at all times on break.
Myth:
Charleston’s four-reading rule from a thermometer on top of a hotel is CRUEL!
Facts:
That system was developed by meteorologists.
Thermometer placement allows us to track ambient temperature.
Four readings is to ensure an accurate reading to prevent unnecessary closures that negatively impact employees and customers.
Myth:
The heat and humidity pose danger to the horses and mules.
Facts:
There has never been a heat-related incident in Charleston because we stringently measure our animals’ internal temperatures, which is a much more accurate indicator of horse health than ambient temperature or humidity.
Load
Myth:
17 people and a carriage is too heavy for the horses/mules to have to pull over 2 tons!
Facts:
Yes, horses pull over 2 tons, but they are bred for it. Draft horses are work horses due to thousands of years of breeding to work alongside humans.
Before they pull carriages, most of these horses work on Amish farms where they pull much heavier equipment every day.
Studies show that they can comfortably pull 5-6 times their body weight. A fully-loaded Charleston carriage is barely 2 times their body weight.
Carriages are designed to make them easy to pull: the oversized wheels help the carriage start and stay in motion to decrease the effort a horse must exert to pull the carriage.
Myth:
The City does not enforce its own load ordinance.
Fact:
It is impossible to violate the load ordinance because the passenger limit is 17 people. It’s like claiming the police aren’t enforcing speed limits because they don’t pull you over for driving 10 miles under the limit.
Work Hours
Myth:
Animals work 8-10 hours a day.
Fact:
Animals at our companies work an average of 4-6 hours per day, with breaks in between.
Half-Truth:
Animals can work up to 10 hours a day.
Fact:
Again, just because they can doesn’t mean they do. Charleston’s carriage community operates well below the threshold for maximum tour limits set by the City ordinance.
Stall Size
Myth:
Stall sizes are too small for horses to adequately sleep.
Facts:
Our stall sizes allow ample room for horses to turn around and lay down. Most are 12’ by 12’.
The anti-tourism “Carriage Horse Advocates” use an article from petMD that lists common problems with the modern horse. Note that this article is referring to generalized modern horses, not Charleston’s carriage horses specifically. This is not a problem in Charleston.
Want to see for yourself? Take a tour! Our barns are open to the public during normal business hours.
Accidents
Myth:
There have been over 100 accidents and downtown streets are dangerous for horses and passengers.