Article & photo by Pam Gamble
The Carriage Operators of North America (CONA) convention came to Memphis for the first time March 3-5. 2011. CONA is a professional organization that promotes the humane use of horses in horse-drawn, vehicle-for-hire businesses. The Westin Hotel Beale Street, site of the three-day convention, is just a stone’s throw from the carriage stand at Third and Beale St. The convention provided the opportunity for CONA to promote education and professionalism within membership. Speakers included a varied group of industry specialists.
Ruhl Insurance agent Nevin Dourte spoke of liability issues that an insured company might encounter by either being a subcontractor or using subcontracted labor. Nevin’s lecture raised awareness about evaluating liability insurance.
Alex Fraser from The Fraser School of Driving spoke on “Let’s not drive ourselves out of business.” He shared his extensive knowledge gained from thirty years of showing in draft horse shows and Combined Driving Events. Alex recently has been an expert witness for litigating driving horse accidents. He described emergency situations that he had either experienced or witnessed, related them to potential emergencies that could arise in a commercial driving situation.
Education is a necessity for commercial carriage companies, especially for those that may be the lone company in their particular city. CONA can provide resources to these members for various types of synthetic street shoes; where the closest Amish wheelwright might be; or even where to get a good safe gray Percheron draft horse for weddings.
Michael Privett, owner of Whispering Winds Carriage Company in Greenville, SC, purchased his company as a turnkey business in 2005. Because Mike had no experience in a commercial carriage business before buying, he was ready to give up within two years. Mike joined CONA in 2007 and his attitude was rejuvenated. “CONA is inspirational. The best part of being a CONA member is the knowledge that you are a part of a larger group that owns and respects horse and carriage rides. You have a wide range of knowledge and experience to tap into as a small company that you would not have on your own.” Mike now welcomes the opportunity to give advice to other new companies.
CONA promotes professionalism in their membership in several ways: CONA provides advice to companies and, if invited, to the governing bodies of the cities in which they run. That advice can help determine the best ordinances to protect the horses and the public. For example, horse care ordinances might cover the number of hours that the horses are allowed to work, what type of shoes they must wear, or how many times in a year they must be vetted. Other ordinances might specify where the carriages are allowed to operate.
Memphis carriages are inspected similarly to a car every year. Lights, brakes, and other safety equipment are checked, as well as the overall appearance of the vehicle. Each carriage, driver, and company license must be renewed annually.
CONA assists members in relations with their respective city governments and with adversarial public groups. Several years ago, CONA assessed a controversial situation in New York. An animal rights’ organization wanted to ban the commercial carriages there, and CONA evaluated the problems. Others followed in an attempt to find the truth of the situation. Last November Robert Dover, six times Olympian, toured the main New York barn. Though he had a few suggestions for improvement, overall he was very positive about the horses’ environment. Dover cited parallels between the situations in his show barn and the New York carriage barn. He compared the ramp that the horses use to get to their upstairs stalls to the ramp at Madison Square Gardens. He was not negative about the work itself, and said, “Commercial carriage owners should not be looked down upon because they make their money with their horses. Only the best horse people are able to make their livings with horses.” The complete interview with Robert Dover can be heard at www.doverworld.com.
The convention also brought people together for old fashioned social networking, just “catching up” with people they haven’t seen in the past year. CONA members range from commercial horse owners only to multidiscipline equestrians who show their horses in pleasure driving, hunt-seat, dressage, or western shows. CONA members proudly displayed photos of their drafting horses as well as their riding horses.
To find a CONA company in your city, visit www.cona.org.
(below) Christina Saylor, owner Carriage Tours of Memphis, drives her favorite horse, a Belgian “Sammy.” Dog is Chester, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
