AllyKattt
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I've been a horse drawn carriage driver for little over a year now. Let me tell ya, you see some crazy stuff. I could do some work stories if you guys want. Or if any of you guys have questions I'd love to answer them. IM LOOKING AT YOU, GOT DAMN PETA PEOPLE.
This is Martha, my red-headed demon child. She's the wild one of the barn, but my absolute favorite. I drive her 90% of the time.
The doggo in my seat is my co-pilot Stella she's a 1 year old Aussie. Her job is to look adorable and convince people to give us more money. (a dogs gotta eat right?)
FP Edit: Whoa guys! I just woke up, had no idea I'd make it to front page! Give me a day or so to get some pictures, (new phone, who dis?) then I promise to tell y'all some stories! Send me pics of your fur babies.
Pupper tax
Sagerider
Whole new take on “Ass, Gas or Grass. Nobody rides for free”.
punnyhooman
Ok dog you got me. Start by explaining how you post things
ISenseTheresSomethingInTheWind
I'm interested.
hublar
Louisville represent! I've been on those carriage rides many times.
vaguenunconvincing1
Louisville has a lovely downtown for this.
punnypanther
Did you just happen into this job or were you.. -drawn- to it?
AllyKattt
Definitely drawn to it! (great pun BTW) I quit a bartending gig to work with horses!
DrxnkYourJuxce
StupidIdeaMaschine
"Can you go faster?" "I would, but it has only 1HP..." "So if you scratch him, he's dead?"
EnglishPolice
Serious question I've always wanted to ask: Do you think that walking on the concrete is uncomfortable for the horses?
ComcastLover
Staring at a horses bum all day is the best job ever?
Huberman061293
That's downtown Louisville. You can tell from the uniboob building
designedbyhumans
Who sends the pics and no stories
IAmJustHereToLurk
I see you Louisville. Love your co-pilot.
CastieJL
quit horsing around
failurez
Neigh.
Thelrishlnquistion
HeyyyMacarena
I hope you took that horse to a farrier. She's long af in the toe.
SofterKinderSlowerStronger
Louisville!
SpringToMyWinter
I have a vegan friend who always gets mad at people running horse carriages.
AllyKattt
There are some places that down right abuse their horses. So I get it . But not all are like that! When treated right some horses enjoy work
malwill
I still just hate the idea of these carriages. None of the horses I’ve known would want to do this job. It’s loud and smelly and frightening
wakeforthesun
I was going to ask about that... I've heard that many horses in cities are pulling loads much heavier than is healthy, when you factor (1/2)
wakeforthesun
in carriage + passengers. Does that match your observations of other companies? And how would tourists know to choose a humane option? (2/2)
kevinbaken
Except when the horse poops!
AllyKattt
There's a bag behind them. I don't scoop shit! Lol
kevinbaken
Smell I meant, but that's nice to know!
FreshWater13
her front feet look a little long. time for the farrier?
likechocolateforchocolate
Came to say the same thing
AllyKattt
They are getting long, but I promise the camera makes em look worse than they are. She's due for a trim. But she physically assaulted our1/2
AllyKattt
2/2 farrier last time so he's a little hesitant.
FreshWater13
ah yeah, that'll do it lol. good luck
LyraTheLycan
First image had me expecting @ElbowDeepInAHorse
ElbowDeepInAHorse
I'd tap that
ElbowDeepInAHorse
on the nose because he's so cute
UsagiTheRabbit
SoberAndBored
How many proposals? And how many said no? And what's the worst no you've heard?
squintish
I'm no expert but Martha's hooves do not look great. I have a friend who gave horse tours of New Oleans (so I'm not 100% against it).
AllyKattt
A few others have mentioned it, the camera makes em look worse than they are, but she is due for a trim. Most farriers in our area work on
AllyKattt
Race horses exclusively. It's hard to find one willing to work on draft horses. Plus Martha is a nightmare for the farrier.
squintish
As I understand it, if they are too long it's bad because they have to use the ankle joint at an unstable angle, thus injury is chance is ^.
MsSobi
I recognise that sky line, you stay safe out in downtown especially in the summer people get stupid during the big events around 2nd and 4th
ToWitIHaveNone
Stumbling drunks..."but I wanna pet the horsie!"
MsSobi
You joke but that does happen especially during festivals
ToWitIHaveNone
Lol! I wasn't joking- I lived there for 8 years, and saw it happen on occasion.
MsSobi
Sorry couldn't tell
ToWitIHaveNone
No worries! :-)
seanvt
The only downside? Horse farts.
Thelrishlnquistion
Not as bad as horse sharts...
punnypanther
Hmm. looks like populated area. Access to horse poop. You could be a supplier to the "send your enemies poop" services. Check, there's a few
AllyKattt
If anyone needs fresh poop to mail their enemies I have an unlimited supply!
Booyababy
Do you pick it up. There are heaps of these in Melbourne and I remember horse shit everywhere in the city, now not so much for some reason
ToWitIHaveNone
Some cities in the US require this odd rubber/canvas looking contraption that harnesses right under the horses poop chute to catch it.
ArsenalThePhoenix
how many times a day do the horses fart straight at you?
AllyKattt
Martha is particularly fond of shitting as soon as I start cleaning out her back feet. She nearly gets me every time.
ArsenalThePhoenix
ha! classic martha
ArsenalThePhoenix
btw, it was a serious question actually :) Though i understand why it might be understood as ironic.
ArsenalThePhoenix
btw, it was a serious question actually :) Though i understand that it might be understood as ironic
AllyKattt
I can't count how much she farts. She's gas powered!
sarahsaurroar
Between the dog and the horse, I would get in that carriage and you'd have to pry me off with a crowbar.
AllyKattt
I've had to force people out of my carriage before! It can be done!
Harryteeters
Just don't feed her any Beef-a-rino
TheShadowBoxingAssCrack
PlainviewUVGF
Was coming in to type this exact sentence. Here's an upvote.
artAnimal
I drove a carriage in Cincinnati...this is the worst job I've ever had. Owning horses, maybe I'm biased, but I despise this industry
AllyKattt
Why was your experience bad?
artAnimal
Overcrowded living conditions of the horses in the city, or having to take them across busy bridges to get them into KY. All of it was awful
criggie
I'm gonna guess.... "customers"
WaffleStompFantasy
It can be stressful and hard on horses. But definitely not the worst thing we do them.
artAnimal
True. I am fairly invested in the thoroughbred industry and rescue programs.
TechnicallyRight
@OP I too enjoy Market and 8th street in Louisville, Ky
AllyKattt
Imgur meet up in Louisville?! It's almost thunder time!
TurnsOutICANEven
There needs to be a meet up! Thunder or a Waterfront Wednesday. Or something!
TechnicallyRight
Sorry, i googled republic plaza and saw you mention louisville and so i found the street you took the pictures at on google maps.
TechnicallyRight
I am several hours from Louisville, KY
SharkOfAwesome
For your ama: Does being on pavement for so many hours a day hurt their feet? What’s different about caring for a horse in the city?
AllyKattt
Our horses don't leave the barn till 6 pm, that way rush hour traffic and all that is gone, and in the summer it's a little cooler. 1/?
AllyKattt
The longest I've worked a horse was for 6.5 hours. But they have shoes on their feet that protect them from the hard pavement/rocks/ect.
AllyKattt
And those shoes get changed every 6 weeks. We make sure our horses are as comfortable as possible.
SharkOfAwesome
How do you keep people from doing stupid stuff around them? (Children getting under them, people in their way, wanting to feed them shit)
SharkOfAwesome
Tag me in your post! I want to read it!
nouseforaheart
dot
AllyKattt
Nothing will stop people from doing stupid shit, you just gotta learn how to handle the situation Thankfully most of our horses are chill af
AllyKattt
But I've had to do some crazy stuff in some sketchy situations, thus me wanting to share some stories. I'll tag you!
triggerfox
I'm curious too!