Blog Archives - Palmetto Carriage Works

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What Our Guests Say About our Carriage Tours

If you’ve been thinking about taking a carriage tour in Charleston, SC, but aren’t quite sure which company with which to go, we’re sharing a few of the quotes we’ve gotten in the past few months. Lots of companies will tell you how great they are, but it’s always better to take it straight from the horse’s mouth–or in this case, the customers’.

“Justin was our tour guide! He was very knowledgeable and hilarious! And Tom and Jerry were our beautiful team pulling us!” -Kerri Murphy

“Great people who truly love and care about the horses and mules. I like how they keep track of the horses hours, just like the staff. To make sure none are overworked. With me being an equine person most of my life, I was extremely interested with the horses shoes. Fantastic job (picture attached). This group is proud of their horses, mules, community and happy to share that enthusiasm to the guests. Weeks of training for the people as well as the horses. A high level of respect, integrity and transparency with this group.” -John Prather

“Andrew and Richard were awesome. Very informative, polite, attentive and funny as well. Was a better tour than expected. Would recommend.” -Joanne Smits

“Wonderful day. Great tour. Ross our tour guide was a local and FULL of local history knowledge. An amazing experience. We saw how well the animals were cared for.” -Jennifer Davis

“Super program at this carriage house. ❤️❤️. I recommend a carriage ride from this company.” -Melanie Pai

“Emily, Andrew & Midnight did a truly fantastic job keeping us entertained while teaching us about the deep history of Charleston, SC. I plan to take any friends or family who visit on this tour.” -Kenneth Rice

“Matt A. was our tour guide today and did a great job in bringing history to life through his narrative. He critically thinks about the history while adding his own knowledge and commentary which makes the tour much more enjoyable. Thanks for the wonderful tour with the slowest horse in Charleston. (Endearingly slow).” -Tuan Nguyen

We can tell you how much we love our horses, our guests and our staff until we’re blue in the face, but there’s nothing more powerful than the words of the folks who have taken our tour. We hope you’ll buy a ticket for a public carriage tour in Charleston (or a private carriage tour) and we’ll see you soon at the Big Red Barn!

10 Fun Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Horses

At Palmetto Carriage Works, our horses are powerful animals that work diligently. Their strong hindquarters effortlessly propel them through each day and their witty sense is admirable. But what makes these incredible animals so unique? Here are 10 horse fun facts:

For starters, horses have the largest eyes of any land animal. No wonder they are able to move so elegantly without missing a beat. Since their eyes are positioned on the sides of their head, horses can see almost 360 degrees at all times. So, rest assured, if you drop a peppermint on the ground, they’ll be the first to spot their favorite treat!

Horses’ teeth take up more room in their head than their brain. However, this happened gradually after early generations of horses were transitioned from eating a diet of predominantly fruit to grass. The bigger the teeth, the better to yank the grass!

Horses take turns keeping a lookout, like the perfect partners in crime. You’ll never catch a herd lying down simultaneously because at least one will act as the horse “on guard.”

On the underside of a horse’s hoof, there is a triangle shape area, referred to as the frog. The frog not only acts as a shock absorber, but also regulates blood flow and pumps it back up to the heart. If you’ve ever wondered how horses feel while walking on pavement, be assured that their hoofs are designed to combat a wide range of surfaces, so it’s quite literally a walk in the park for them.

Have you ever felt your heartbeat in your chest when you’re excited or scared? While your heart tends to feel heavy in these instances, a human heart actually weighs only 11 ounces, while a horse’s heart weighs 9 to 10 pounds on average! No wonder our equine friends are such incredible athletes. After all, their power source is unparalleled in any other creature.

Horses consume anywhere north of 25 gallons of water each day. Of course, in warmer climates like Charleston, horses are known to consume much more in the summer months. That’s why our horses are well hydrated before and after carriage rides. In fact, if you’re ever in doubt of a horse’s hydration level, gently pinch together a patch of their skin. If it quickly flattens out, the horse is well hydrated; If the skin stays wrinkled for a few seconds, they need a tall drink of water!

What allows a horse to swivel its ear with such ease at the drop of a hat? The 16–yes, 16–muscles in each ear! These inner ear muscles allow a horse to rotate their ears 180 degrees, allowing them to pick up on unique sounds or shoo flies away.

Without a doubt, we are all hands on deck to ensure each horse is well cared for and that includes monitoring their body temperature both prior to and after each carriage ride. In fact, when the outside temperature reaches 95 or the heat index reaches 110, all tours are halted. Additionally, if a horse’s body temperature rises above 102.9, the horse is pulled from the service and well cared for until its body temperature regulates back to normal. Did you know that you can quickly get an estimate of your horse’s temperature by feeling the area behind their ears? If it’s warm, the horse is feeling a bit overheated and should be taken to a shaded area and hydrated.

Horses are some of the most caring animals on earth. Not only are they sociable with humans, but they care greatly about their companions and other horse friends. In other words, they’re happiest being around us humans by day and trotting in the field with their horse friends by night. This is exactly what each Palmetto Carriage horse experiences!

Horses and humans have a relationship dating back thousands of years ago since the first horse was domesticated. The need for horses emerged as a method of transportation, but of course, our special friends hold a sincere place in our hearts to this day. So it may come as no surprise to learn that horses symbolize honor in many cultures. In fact, they are often linked to successful and heroic war heroes. Rightfully so!

If you found these horse fun facts fascinating and want to learn more about these animals as well as Charleston, book a carriage ride tour today! Public tours last approximately one hour and run every 15 minutes. Saddle up and let’s ride!

Featured on TravelMag’s “Top Things to Do in Charleston at Night”

TravelMag recently featured Palmetto Carriage Works in its “Top Things to Do in Charleston At Night” and we’re thrilled to have made the cut. If you’re wondering what to do in our historic city once the sun sets, check out their recommendations here (including an evening carriage tour).

One of the most traditional activities to enjoy in Charleston is to explore the city aboard an authentic carriage. There are several companies offering such tours in the city, and one of the most renowned is Palmetto Carriage Works. Among the tours they offer is an Evening Carriage Tour of the Commercial District, which takes in parts of the old walled city, historic churches and public buildings as well as the Cooper River Water Front. Tours run for about 35-minutes, during which you’ll learn about Charleston’s history, architecture, and the people that make up the “Holy City,” all while enjoying the cool evening breeze.

Life in Retirement: Loretta’s New Chapter

Have you ever wondered about a carriage horse’s retirement? Here’s the perfect example. Loretta was a company-wide favorite horse and worked with us for many years. We’ve gotten permission to share this lovely update from her new owners in Maine, who are enjoying her tremendously. We are incredibly proud of our animals and the impact they have even after they leave the Big Red Barn. Learn about Loretta’s new chapter and enjoy the beautiful photos they’ve shared along with us:

I wanted to reach out to you personally and let you know how Loretta is doing in frigid Maine. It’s been a quick 1.5 years and she has accomplished so much during her short time here. First, thank you for raising such a well-rounded horse! Within a few weeks of her being here, she turned Duke back into a horse. He had a sad history of neglect and was riddled with arthritis and health issues. He now runs through their pasture chasing her about like he’s a teenager again, and more importantly, he knows he is a horse again!

The dynamic duo are truly gentle giants and are loving all of the attention they are receiving from volunteers and individuals involved in the equine therapy program that they are trying to get up and running at our barn. Our barn owner’s husband is a Vietnam Vet suffering from PTSD and at the hesitant request of the therapy group leader, they decided to start having meetings at the barn. The barn slowly became a safe space for all those involved, and now it has been opened up to individuals with all types of disabilities as well. Non-profit status requires so much time and paperwork, but we will get there!

But in the meantime, Duke and Loretta, because of their size and calm demeanor, are often the first horses used when trying to get individuals acclimated to being around horses, grooming horses, caring for horses, and riding horses!

Loretta has proven herself time and time again and really loves the attention she gets, especially from children yielding snacks!

It may not be guiding a carriage around warm and sunny Charleston, but she really seems to enjoy the interaction with kids, and she loved pulling the sled and snow tubes! This spring she will be starting her next big chapter in her book – helping me to tame a 3 year old paint mare who we recently rescued from a rough situation.

Loretta has proven that she has the patience and personality to help me earn the trust of other horses, and is able to convey messages that I can’t seem to do. She really is amazing!

Although I am sure that you guys miss her dearly, know that she is up in Maine doing incredible things and touching the lives of so many people! Here are a few pictures of the queen in all of her glory, and some of her with her new Maine crew! Oh, and to honor her southern heritage, her stall sign has her “full” name, Our Southern Belle, Loretta. We may not be “show” people, but we still think she has the best name!

If you want to get to know more of our animals, come by our barn on Guignard St. in Downtown Charleston. We’re open every day!

The Domestication of Horses: A Brief History

We’ve all seen those vintage cowboy movies. There are wild horses running freely and all of a sudden, a hero-type jumps in, ropes her neck and begins the breaking process. Soon, the horse is eating out of his hand and maybe coming to his rescue. But how did the domestication of horses really happen? Here’s a brief history:

Did you know that people began domesticating horses up to 10,000 years ago?

According to new DNA research, archeologists that once believed horses began being trained about 4,000-6,000 have now discovered new lineages and surmised that different groups of people across Eurasia were raising and/or training horses within the last 10,000 years ago. Evidence of bits being used on horses have been recovered from 5,000 years ago.

Before the invention of the locomotive, horses were the fastest way to travel across land.

It’s no surprise that they were used in war, for hunting and for transportation. According to the British Museum, since “travel is one of the defining features of human development, so the history of the horse is the history of civilisation itself.”

How do we use horses today?

Although cars have replaced them as a primary mode of transportation, people still use horses to work livestock and, of course, for sport and entertainment from racing to rodeos to the Olympics. Our long and beautiful alliance with these animals is rich and brilliant.

If you’d like to get up close and personal with our horses and mules, you can stop by our barn on Guinard St. or book a carriage tour with one of our licensed tour guides. Not only will they educate you about the beautiful city of Charleston, but you’ll get a little horse knowledge as well!

Horse Hygiene Quick Facts

All equine lovers know that maintaining healthy, happy horses and mules is not an easy task. It not only requires a lot of horseshoes and shampoo, but a lot of love! Here are a few quick horse hygiene facts that you may not know about Palmetto Carriage Works.

Currently, we have 32 horses and 10 mules on our team. That means 168 feet to maintain. Our farrier comes by three times a week asses our animals’ shoes. We use rubber or elastomer shoes, boots or pads to prevent slipping on the pavement, brick or concrete.

Have you ever heard of floating?

No, not down the Edisto River. We mean floating for horse’s teeth! A float is a tool that is used to file a horse’s teeth. Therefore, floating is filing a horse’s teeth in order to keep them relatively smooth and even, which is ideal for eating and grazing. Fun fact: did you know that vets can check a horse’s teeth to estimate their age, too?

How often do we bathe our horses?

Well, it depends on the season. Summers in Charleston can be hot and humid, so our horses get baths nearly every day they work! This helps keep them cool, fresh and ready for the next day! We don’t have to bathe manes as much, but we keep the suds flowing at the barn!

Did you know that a 1,000-pound horse can produce about 50 pounds of manure and urine per day?

As you can imagine, we are constantly cleaning our barn, its stalls, water troughs, tack rooms and feed bags to keep our animals as healthy as possible.

Want to take a look for yourself? Come by Guinard St. in Downtown Charleston and look for the big red barn! We’re open every day and love visitors! You can also book a Charleston carriage tour.

Historic Charleston Sites You’re Likely to See on our Carriage Tour

Charleston is full of historic sites that you might pass by and never know the significance they carry. When you climb aboard one of our carriages, driven by one our licensed tour guides and pulled by our beautiful horses and mules, here are some of those historic Charleston sites you are likely to see (depending on your tour path):

St. Philip’s Church

St. Philip’s Church is home to Charleston’s oldest congregation.

Four Corners of Law

This is where (in our totally biased opinion) the world’s most beautiful post office stands steadfast, opposite the Courthouse.

Rainbow Row

Situated near the Battery, Rainbow Row is a magical row of Georgian style homes painted in colonial Caribbean style.

St. Michael’s Church

St. Michael’s opened in 1761 and is one of the oldest church edifices in Charleston.

The Calhoun Mansion

A popular destination because of its Gilded Age antiques and English gardens, the mansion was once owned by John C. Calhoun’s grandson.

Two Meeting Street Inn

One given as a wedding gift in the Depression era, Two Meeting Street Inn has been called the crown jewel of Charleston’s accommodations and continues to be family-owned since it became a bed and breakfast in the late 1940s.

The Cistern, the hearth of College of Charleston.

The Cistern was constructed in 1857 as a reservoir to provide water for fighting fires in the days before the city installed a water system. Since then, it has not only housed the graduation ceremonies for College of Charleston, but it hosted The View, The Today Show and Stephen Colbert’s The Colbert Report.

South Carolina Society Hall

Society Hall was built at 72 Meeting Street as a school for female orphans and indigents, and as a meeting place. The first meeting was was held July 24, 1804.

White Point Gardens

Perhaps one of the most famous destinations on the Peninsula, White Point Gardens was the centerpiece of the Battery (hence the cannons) used to fortify the city in the Civil War.

Want to learn more about our beautiful, historic Charleston sites? Book your carriage tour today!

Our Favorite Fan Photos from 2018!

Every year, our fans and followers tag us in awesome social media photos. We love that we get to entertain you and your family and friends while you’re with us in Charleston and hope that we get to do it for generations to come. Without further ado, here are a few of our favorite fan photos from 2018:

First up is our snow from January 4. This photo was taken by Art Sandusky:

Next, we’ve got a few smiling faces from our carriage fans:

Photo credit: @jeslynbranick on Instagram

Photo credit: @laurasch7 on Instagram

Photo credit: @sweetlifeofbean on Instagram

Photo Credit: Tom Lucas on Facebook

Photo credit: Joana Babbitt on Facebook

Photo credit: Gwen Weathers on Facebook

And finally, a few amazing shots posted on Charleston Wedding Guide:

Top 5 Charleston Moments from 2018

Our city’s history is dense, but 2018 proved to be a great one. Here are the top five Charleston moments from 2018 in New Year’s Eve countdown fashion:

Charleston issued over 5,000 wedding licenses last year! Weddings continue to be a huge staple of our economy and we enjoy it, too. Check out this great shot, published by Charleston Weddings Guide on Instagram and snapped by Christa Rene:

Depending on who you are, this may be good or bad news: Travel + Leisure named Charleston the #1 city in the U.S. for the sixth consecutive year. We love all the recognition and influx of visitors from all corners of the country (but some locals like it less).

Hurricane Florence caused some hysteria this fall, but the good news was that the damage and rainfall was much less than initially anticipated. We only had to deal with our regularly-scheduled flooding Downtown. Thankfully, our barn was in tip-top shape and we only had to close for one day.

Sure, losing the lawsuit prohibiting unlicensed tour guides from peddling faux history to travelers was a blow, but we persevere; committed to only hiring licensed tour guides–and the best at that! Additionally, we’re reintroducing our walking tours, which you can book year-round.

Clemson is headed to the National Championship Game again! Even if you root for the Gamecocks, the state can unite in our love of (hopefully) beating Alabama.

There’s one thing that never changes year to year and that is our great appreciation to all our visitors and guests. We are grateful for your continued support in the community and are looking forward to seeing all of you next year!

10 Reasons To Take Our New Historic Walking Tours

At Palmetto Carriage Works, we know what we are best known for is our beautiful animals and our carriage ride tours through the historic district of Charleston. But what is life without a little variety, eh? We are now introducing historic walking tours!

Here’s a checklist to see if you are a match for one of our historic walking tours:

You want to learn about the unique history of Charleston, SC.
You’re an architecture buff and want to see all the charming homes and buildings that our city has to offer.
You like being entertained and smiling.
Your family is visiting and you really need something to do with them that doesn’t include spending an exorbitant amount of money on King St.
You’ve lived here awhile and you still don’t know anything about your city.
You’d like to meet new people.
You love the outdoors including the smell of jasmine flowers and hearing the lapping of waves against the seawall at the Battery.
You want to impress your in-laws/co-workers/significant other with your Lowcountry knowledge.
You need to scope out new places to take your family for a picnic, clients for a photoshoot or just to get some “me” time.
You need a clever Christmas gift that someone won’t expect! (Did we mention that we have gift cards available?)

If you answered “this is definitely me” to one or many or all of these reasons, you should book your historic walking tour today. The tours are 2 hours and cover 10-15 city blocks. Adults are $18 and children are $10!