The disappearing horse carriages

Once a popular prop for weddings, nowadays horse carriages are losing their appeal.

KARACHI: From the fairy-tale pumpkin carriage to a shiny limousine; wedding entrances are all about making a statement. And at one of the most watched weddings of all time, Prince Charles and Lady Diana chose to ride off into their future in a horse-drawn carriage.

Closer to home, carriage rides were quite popular till a few years ago. Foreigners and residents were driven around in a horse-drawn carriage which allowed them to see the city in a unique way. These carriages were often elaborately decorated with lights and flowers and used to take a newly married couple to their residence.

But with the overwhelming hype surrounding weddings and each couple wanting to stand out more than the next, horse carriages are not coming up to par with other, more innovative props. Nadir Khan, a coach-man says, “It is no longer a flourishing business, sometimes we make a profit but sometimes business is very slow.”

Khan is the owner of three coaches in Soldier Bazaar but is forced to rent a horse out on a daily basis for Rs1,200, to add to his meagre source of income.

The coach man confesses that he has no choice but to rent out his horse in order to provide for his family and also to be able to feed his horses which costs approximately Rs400 per day.

When asked about carriage prices and rates during wedding season, Khan said, “People are unable to afford it these days.”

As far as decorating the carriages are concerned, Khan says, “It depends on people and their budget, usually people like to decorate a horse-driven carriage for Rs3,000 to Rs4,000 but some spend up to Rs10,000 as well.”

Khan says that providing conveyance to students to and from school is the most stable form of income for him. “This part of the business hasn’t been affected as yet. Through it I can generate an income of a little less than Rs10,000 per month,” says Khan.

Unfortunately for Khan and other owners, horse-drawn carriages are no longer used to tour the city. “This is primarily because CNG rickshaws have become increasingly common and now people don’t travel for the sake of pleasure and are in a hurry to reach their destination.”

While cautious of the fact that the buggy culture has nearly come to an end, Khan worriedly adds, “I don’t know, I am uneducated and have no other skill. I really don’t know when such a day will come and when it does then how will I be able to fend for myself?”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2010.