FAQs

Retirement

• When Tally-Ho retires working horses, they remain safe and happy with their herd-mates and human family who has always loved and cared for them.
• As a highly intelligent and social animal, we have seen our retired horses become slightly depressed when they are no longer working downtown each day. Instead, we keep these horses mentally stimulated and physically fit with light trail rides, fun days at the farm and they become key (senior) instructors in our staff development program.
• Draft horses often live an average of 25 years. However, Tally-Ho’s horses are living well beyond the norm – often well into their mid-30s. We are fairly certain that the steady, low-strain and low-impact exercise that pulling a carriage provides is contributing to their life expectancies. They say walking is the best thing we can do for our bodies; if any of that truth can apply to the horse, than this makes sense!

Should the Horses be Set Free?

• Across the world there are groups of people forming to protest to any number of issues. We are not immune. Tally-Ho appreciates that people care, and we encourage everyone to be passionate about something in life… but please ensure you are informed.
• For example, recently an animal rights group that is sponsored by a small federal political party has spoken out against the use of horses in Victoria. This group does not support the use or ownership of any animal: they have fought to ban all local 4-H programs and therefore education of children through animals, amongst other things such as eating bacon (not kidding!). They have admitted to having no knowledge of horses’ social or physical care requirements. The motivations of their leaders are purely political. Unfortunately, this uninformed yet passionate group has launched an attack on the carriage industry.

What these minority groups don’t realize is that:

• An inactive horse is a condemned horse (his intrinsic physical and mental needs will not be fulfilled);
• Mortality rates for horses that are ‘set free’ are extremely high as they typically suffer and die due to disease, dehydration, and starvation;
• Animal rescue groups such as the SPCA have been overrun with abused or abandoned horses over the last few years due to scarcity of feed and skyrocketing health and housing costs; and
• Draft horses in particular are susceptible to poor care as people often underestimate the costs associated with their keep: the harsh reality is that many draft horses end up at auction where they have very uncertain futures.

What if Operations were Discontinued?

• The BC SPCA and the City of Victoria (the industry’s regulating bodies) have stated that there are absolutely no concerns over the ethical treatment of the horses within the local industry.
• The horses on Victoria’s streets do not show signs of stress, have proper foot care and their body conditions clearly show they are in good health.
• We encourage anyone who would like to know more about our operation to talk to us! Caution: we love what we do, and are only too happy to tell you all about it!

If carriage operations were discontinued in Victoria:

• Over 40 draft horses may need to be re-homed at annual costs of close to $1 million.
• Over 70 staff would be stripped of their livelihood, including many part-time university students who rely on the industry to support their education.
• A model of excellence in carriage operations would no longer be setting the bar high for other operators around the world.
• Victoria would lose an important piece of its history, and society would lose a major connection with horses which is proven to significantly benefit social and life skills