Horse and Carriage

The advent of the automobile may have driven the carriage off of the main roads and highways, but not out of the hearts and minds of many enthusiasts. In fact, carriage driving is experiencing a new renaissance of late – especially with baby boomers and in therapeutic applications. Using a horse and carriage gives participants an alternative to riding, opening up the world of horses to those who may be unable to ride due to weight, balance, fatigue, fear of heights, or the inability to sit astride.

Whether you are a current rider looking for something different; an aging rider looking for something more comfortable or elegant, a never rider seeking a gateway into equine sports and recreation, or are just a curious soul seeking to learn something new, make plans to attend Carriage Day on July 9 at the Baltimore County Ag Center and Farm Park. Carriage Day is a partnership between MARC and My Lady’s Manor Driving Club. Pack a lunch, bring the whole family. See a variety of horse carts up close, learn more about the sport, then cheer the drivers on as they navigate a series of 6 farm-themed obstacles set up in the outdoor arena. After the competition, kids will have the opportunity to run the obstacle course (sans horse). $5 a carload – register today or pay at the door.

A Brief History of the Horse Drawn Carriage

Humans have relied upon the strength of animals to move people and goods for thousands of years. At first, materials were packed onto the backs of the animals. Later wagons with wheels were added. One of the earliest true people movers, powered by horses was the chariot invented by the Mesopotamians about 3000 B.C.

The idea for minimizing the size of the front wheels for ease of turning as well as suspending the body of the vehicle between the axels rather than resting on them is attributed to builders in the Hungarian village of Kocs(also thought to be the origination of the name coach/kocsi) in the sixteenth century.

The age of the carriage lasted only 300 years, from the late 17th century until the early 20th century. In the U.S. the height of the carriage occurred between 1850-1910 (primitive roads held back wheeled travel).

Early carriages were very expensive, and therefore reserved for the very wealthy. In London, the carriage for hire, precursor of the modern taxicab, came onto the scene during the Industrial Revolution. By the 1870’s, carriages were more affordable and more widely available. Mass production was able to lower prices so considerably, that mail-order catalogs advertised simple vehicles for $20 (in 1900, the average annual income for a non-farmer was $483). As is the case today, the make and model of one’s carriage advertised one’s wealth and social status

Improvements in roads also bolstered use of the carriage. Americans borrowed a road form from the medieval English – the turnpike. Every 10 miles, a pole stretched across the road. Travelers were required to pay a toll to continue on their way. The roadways themselves were constructed using crushed stone or macadam base for drainage, and wide enough for two buggies to comfortably pass each other.

These new roads shaved days off of typical travel times. For example, before the turnpike, the trip from Lancaster, PA to Philadelphia took more than a week. With the turnpike, the trip could be made in less than four days.

When first introduced, the automobile was an unreliable novelty. Improvements in manufacturing and technology changed that quickly. There were more than 4,600 carriage companies in the U.S. as late as 1914. By 1929, there were fewer than 90. Some of the carriage companies, like Studebaker, converted to the manufacturing of automobiles.

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MARC 1114 Shawan Road Cockeysville, MD 21030

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1114 Shawan Rd Cockeysville, MD | 21030 US

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