Comments | little_details: Putting the cart before the horse, literally.

picky_dragon in little_details

Putting the cart before the horse, literally.

Jul 09, 2012 16:06

I'm writing a fantasy story (not Earth, but an Earth-like fantastical world) where it is common practice to "rent" horse carriages for temporary use, with one's own horses. The coachman will come by your stables with the carriage (pulled by a company horse), set it up with your horse(s), ride it up to your home, then drop it off for you to take ( Read more... )

~victorian era, ~animals: horses, ~travel: pre-modern overland, ~history (misc)

Comments 9

lyonesse July 10 2012, 17:31:12 UTC

if a horse is trained to do this, it can be reasonably done. i don't think it's been historically common, but that's not to say it couldn't be standard in your fantasy world.

an alternative might be to have the driver pony (that is, lead alongside) the horse to be ridden home.

ponying along extra horses is quite common in some cultures, such as in iceland. (they don't much use carts there though, it's done from the saddle.)

bopeepsheep July 10 2012, 18:02:13 UTC

It's how our village Pony Club* leader used to take her daughter's horse between local sites (e.g. for shows) whenever she had a leg in plaster** and couldn't drive the horsebox or walk over. A horse who is used to it won't blink at being tethered behind a trap. Sometimes she would take two that way, but for three or more she'd get someone to ride with the string instead.

* Brownie/Guide/Ranger/Swimming/Youth Club/Sunday School leader & supply teacher. One of those "which hat am I wearing today?" people who make small English villages work.
** It happened a lot for various not-always-horse-related reasons.

smirnoffmule July 10 2012, 18:05:09 UTC

I may be misunderstanding your scenario here, but is it necessary for the "company" horse which pulls the carriage to the client's stables, and the coachman's own horse to be two different horses? Because the most simple solution that I can see here is that the coachman would just ride the horse which pulled the carriage home.

nanini July 10 2012, 18:51:38 UTC

1. You bring the carriage to the stables with your horse.
2. You set the carriage up with the client's horse(s) - Your horse is roaming free.
3. You bring the carriage to the client's house, drop it there and come back. If you want to go home by horse from that point, you need to bring it along between 2 and 3.

smirnoffmule July 10 2012, 19:05:51 UTC

Ok, I was assuming the stables would be the client's own stables, as in on or near their property.

nanini July 10 2012, 19:12:27 UTC

They seem to be the client's stables, but they're implying that they're far from the house.

inamac July 10 2012, 18:23:29 UTC

It was usual, with Gypsy caravans (vardo) to hitch other horses behind, (often mares with youngsters) and to move this extra horse in front to deal with hills. gypsy wagon history confirms.

Or, as another comment says, why not have the spare horse ridden home? Postillion harness includes a saddle for this purpose.

yanagi_wa July 10 2012, 20:33:31 UTC

I thought I'd just stick in my 2cents worth. Getting the cart before the horse, is an old expression that means to do things backward. As to the question, many times people would 'lead line' an extra horse. This is just a way of saying that they'd attach a long rope to the horse's halter and tie it to the back of a wagon or carriage.

However, in your scenario, several other people have suggested the same thing I would. Just have the company man ride the horse that pulled the carriage.