Charleston, SC, is a splendid vacation spot. With over 400 years of fascinating history and an average daily temperature of 65.6 degrees Fahrenheit, you can’t go wrong. Visitors to the city love to take advantage of both of these qualities via horse carriage tours; whether you’re interested in Charleston’s historic district, bustling Downtown, or spooky sites, horse tours allow you to explore each option to your heart’s desire! However, you can’t simply hop into the nearest buggy and demand that they take you where you want to go; let’s take a look at some rules of etiquette regarding horse tours that you should abide by.
- Be respectful. This is a good standard when dealing with any business. When animals are involved, it’s all the more important to listen to your driver and follow their rules. Most horse drawn carriage tours are led by drivers well-educated on the city’s history; feel free to ask questions, but don’t interrupt or be rude. Respect the carriage as you do the person driving it; do your best not to damage your ride.
- Don’t jump out. Carriage tours follow designated routes assigned by the city, and they are very precise in their timing. This means that you can’t deviate from your path, even if you see something in the distance that you want to check out. Jumping out is never a good idea; you could end up hurting yourself or scaring the horse in the process. If you decide you want to get off, respectfully inform your driver and they’ll find a safe place for you to do so.
- Don’t touch the horse without permission. Though they can be quite exciting to look at and be near, the horse at the front of your carriage may not want to be touched. They are far stronger than other animals, so only your driver will be able to tell you if you can give it a little pat. Although most are fine with a little contact, you should always follow your driver’s wishes.
If you can master the above rules of etiquette, both you and your driver (and your horse!) will have a wonderful ride throughout the city. Remember, just because you’re on vacation does not give you the right to do whatever you want; these people and their animals are working, and you should treat them just as how you would like to be treated.
