Things to check when renting a carriage company

When  you decide to rent a carriage, what are some of the  important things to find out about the company.

1.  Ask how long they have been in business, and more importantly how long have they been driving horses and driving on the street?
Not having a lot of experience is not a complete deterrent if they are working with a very experienced company or carriage driver.  Ask if they have not been in business very long. Ask about their training.

2.  Ask if you can come to see the carriages and the horse prior to signing a contract.  any company that is providing a quality service should be open to a visit with an appointment. Look at the carriage and make sure it is in good repair.

3.  Ask to see the horses. Make sure they are friendly and seem in good physical condition - not too thin, bright eyes, not lame, coats shiny.  Ask how long the horses have been working pulling a carriage and what safety measures are practiced if the horse has not worked on the street very long yet- i.e. a groom always rides with the driver as an assistant with the horse etc.

4.  Ask if the company has liability insurance.  Some companies choose not to carry insurance and puts you at risk as well as any of your guests at the event.

5.  Ask what type of clothing the handler, groom and drivers will wear during the actual event. Most horse carriage companies will wear work clothes to the site and change before the event. Horses can be messy work and most people do not want to soil their good dress clothes before they actually start the event.

6.  Ask for references. If the company will not supply or cannot supply references, I would consider another choice.

7.  Ask when the time for the contract starts- at the time the carriage is requested to start working or when the company arrives to start set up. In some cases a company may charge less per hour but they start charging from the time they leave the farm.

8.  Ask if there are any required licenses to work in the area for your event. The carriage company should know this. If they say there are licenses required, does this company have the required licenses?

A reputable company should be willing to answer all these questions and to have you visit with an appointment.