Anyone for a Carriage Ride?
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382467)
Rockingham, Australia
December 18, 2015 6:50pm CST
Being a horse-lover and owner from way back, I was excited to find a Pferdeschwemme or 'horse well' in Salzburg. Apparently there are two. I think the one we saw was next to the Festival Halls which used to be the court stables. The wells were built to provide water for the Prince Archbishop's horses. This particular well was built by Fischer von Erlach who was a prominent architect during the baroque period.
In the centre of the well is a statue by Michael Bernhard Mandl called 'Der Rossebändiger' which translates loosely to 'horse-tamer'. The well was renovated in 1732 and the statue shifted by 90 degrees. New frescoes were painted by Josef Ebner. The original drawings were by Stradanus.
There were a number of horse-and-carriage outfits available for hire. Most of the vehicles were landaus. All utilised pairs of horses rather than singles. The smaller equines appear to be Haflingers, sometimes known as Avelignese. These are always chestnut with flaxen manes and tails and were developed in Austria and northern Italy during the late 19th century. They are ideal for light draught work. The first horse to be cloned was of the Haflinger breed. The Haflingers in the photos all look very similar but there are two different pairs. Do you pick up on details when you have a strong interest in a subject?
I created this video with the YouTube Slideshow Creator (http://www.youtube.com/upload)
20 people like this
18 responses
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
19 Dec 15
They have carriage rides in Chicago, but I have never been on one.
3 people like this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
19 Dec 15
You should go on a carriage ride in Chicago, have you ever been on a hay ride as they are fun also @fishtiger58
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382467)
• Rockingham, Australia
19 Dec 15
@fishtiger58 @maryaz I would love a sleigh ride. I doubt I'll ever have one but I keep hoping!
2 people like this
@fishtiger58 (29819)
• Momence, Illinois
19 Dec 15
@Marcyaz Yes I have been on hay rides but it was a long time ago.
2 people like this
@DeborahDiane (40850)
• Laguna Woods, California
19 Dec 15
Once again I love your youtube video. We have owned a number of horses over the years, but never a draught horse. I would love to go on a carriage ride in Salzburg.
3 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
19 Dec 15
Been there, done that. You would love the horse, carriage, tour and guide.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382467)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Dec 15
@ElizabethWallace I guess we should have gone on a ride while we were there but it's not quite the same as driving your own.
2 people like this
@BelleStarr (61463)
• United States
21 Dec 15
I didn't notice this but then it may have been closed due to the weather. Loved Salzburg however, such a pretty city.
2 people like this
@whiteream (8567)
• United States
19 Dec 15
That sounds verry nice. I have never done it myself but I would like to.
2 people like this
@Marcyaz (35316)
• United States
19 Dec 15
You shoud sometime when you have a chance as it can be so exciting@whiteream
1 person likes this
@whiteream (8567)
• United States
19 Dec 15
@JudyEv I have always wanted to but there is nothing like that around where I am.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189957)
• Boise, Idaho
19 Dec 15
I would love this I guess the governor in NYC is putting a stop to the carriage business there. In some other larger cities I see they are doing the same thing. It is sad but with traffic such as it is I can see where it could be very stressful for the horses.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (189957)
• Boise, Idaho
21 Dec 15
@JudyEv ...Yes, I guess it is time. Hope to see them in the country.
1 person likes this
@sueznewz2 (10409)
• Alicante, Spain
20 Dec 15
I went on a brewers dray once... drawn by two huge shire horses ... it was lovely.... I love horses.. from sleek thoroughbreeds and racehorses to the gentle giant shire and quarter horses... and the pony too... all of em .. love the slide show.... 
2 people like this
@antonbunot (11146)
• Calgary, Alberta
21 Dec 15
@JudyEv LOL . . You must be wondering why I am LOL! It is because (actually, bit embarrassing) I have ridden water buffalos but not horses! 
1 person likes this
@antonbunot (11146)
• Calgary, Alberta
21 Dec 15
@JudyEv No, that was 30 years ago . . back in the Philippines . . . been in Canada for 25 years.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382467)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Dec 15
@antonbunot We had poddy calves that we could still ride once they grew up. That was fun.
@garymarsh6 (24047)
• United Kingdom
20 Dec 15
You can still see horse troughs in some places in England mainly on the old road routes where horses could stop to be watered and fed.
2 people like this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
19 Dec 15
I was in Salzburg one winter. It snowed the entire week I was there, except for the hour when a friend and I took a ride on one of these horse drawn carriages. Coincidence? Nope. Just great luck.
1 person likes this
@ElizabethWallace (12069)
• United States
21 Dec 15
@JudyEv The entire city was covered by a blanket of snow. The only place clear of it was the blanket covering our laps.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (382467)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Dec 15
@ElizabethWallace To me, that would have been such a special memory.
2 people like this
@Porcospino (31365)
• Denmark
22 Dec 15
My friend from Japan and I went went on a carriage ride in the open air village when she visited Denmark. It was a nice experience and my friend was really excited because she had never been close to a horse before. I grew up in the city myself, but I had friends from the countryside and they let my ride one of their horses.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382467)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Dec 15
It's surprising how many adults have never been close to a horse, or many of the other farm animals.
@Freelanzer (10782)
• Canada
21 Dec 15
In a recent visit to Belize I took a city tour in a horse drawn cart. I love horses so I was torn as to whether I allow myself to be driven by one as I am always worried about the animal abuse factor. However, I enjoyed it very much and the driver handled it very well
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382467)
• Rockingham, Australia
21 Dec 15
Soon after von Trapp was widowed he moved his family to a suburb of Salzburg. Maria was a postulant in a Salzburg Abbey when contracted to serve as a tutor.
