Wedding horses

[Wimbles]

Hi all, I'm just looking for anyone who has any experience of having horses at weddings.

I had a phonecall this morning from a friend and who is best man at a wedding in two weeks time. The bride who is an experienced rider had arranged to ride a horse up to the castle where they are getting married, spending a fortune on a dress that has been made specially so she can ride only to be let down today.

Anyway I have offered up my big lad as, despite his size and the fact that he's an ex racer, I think he'll be perfect as he's bombproof and used to being dressed up etc!

The bride is coming tomorrow for a trial run

I just want to know if anyone's done this kind of thing, any tips, things to avoid etc etc.........

 

[mandwhy]

That sounds amazing!! I would quite like to do something like that on my wedding day! Would love to see pictures if you get any

 

[MagicMelon]

I'd be careful and get her to sign something saying you dont get sued if she falls off! Otherwise, sounds fun - make sure you're ned is extremely clean and neat.

 

[smellsofhorse]

My sister did!
Got some friends from the yard to get him ready and bring him.
Lovely pictures, just in hand as he is a newly backed 3 year old!

 

[Meowy Catkin]

Make sure that you have the correct insurance and then you can enjoy it without worry.

 

[Wimbles]

I've check my policy and it seems that he insured to be ridden by other people aswell as public liability and the bride also has rider insurance with the BHS. Do you think this is ok or do I need anything else?

Thanks for all your input, excatly what I was after, positive stories and good advice, cheers, keep it coming xx

 

[Kat]

That sounds fine as long as you aren't being paid but the bride should perhaps check her wedding policy too incase anything gets damaged.....

 

[JenTaz]

i would reccomend even if she is an experienced rider that there is someone walking on the ground next to them, a girl at my yard rode her blue cross mare to her wedding from the yard, only about a half an hour walk away was absolutely beautiful

 

[Paris1]

Avoid the horse rearing and breaking the vicars ARM! Yes this happened!

 

[Princess Jess]

Thats sounds like a lovely idea
I think it should be fine as long as you're both insured, and agree it would be a good idea to have some walking next to/leading the horse as I can't imagine it being that easy to ride in a wedding dress!
Hope you all have a lovely day

 

[mulledwhine]

Sounds fab, you could always charge expenses, rather than asking for payment of use of horse, that should leave you covered

We need many photos if the big day

 

[abbijay]

1 - make sure the horse is used to being covered with slidey fabrics on his quarters. I heard of one who was regularly rugged and ridden in an exercise sheet but freaked and legged it when the wedding dress was across his quarters.
2 - make it quite clear that you are doing this as a favour. Do not accept money even to cover your expenses, your liability will be hugely increased. Don't even accept a gift until after the day! Chances are both your insurances will only cover you if you are wearing a riding hat and i doubt she'll do that on teh way to her wedding!
Brides can be very stressy (trust me I was the worst) so make it clear from the outset that you will merely do your best and will not offer any guarantees.

 

[guido16]

I rode my mare to my (first. . ) wedding. Also Had my 5 dogs there! It was fantastic. Got my dress designed around her back and bum my dad lead her and I went bareback with a light cover over her and no shoes (on me)
As has been said, it makes for fantastic photos!

 

[Shantara]

Sounds lovely Make sure you get pictures!!
My YO rode a black horse and her husband rode a white one for their wedding, with the bridles wrapped in ribbons. It looked beautiful

 

[cobmum]

I am getting married next month and really wanted some wedding pics with horses in (reception is in countryside) but with not owning for a while and living abroad for a spell i dont have any horsey friends anymore. My OH loves horses too so would have made the day for both us!

 

[Trolt]

First of all - start riding your horse with something over your legs! Rip up an old duvet to act as a skirt, or go to a charity shop and buy a really cheap horrid wedding dress. Something that will dangle down his legs and flap so he gets used to what the dress will be like. Also practice mounting with it so he gets to stand with masses of material being organised.

Other tip - wash an exercise sheet for him to wear. However clean he is, there will always be hair or mud attached to the brides wedding dress! You won't see the exercise sheet under the dress (or make it a smart one for pictures), but it stops the dress getting covered in mud and dust.

I'd suggest the bride wears boots under her dress, and changes her shoes on arrival, so make sure you discuss that with her!

If anyone can get them then get some shoe covers (that surgeons wear in scrubs) to put over her riding boots. She should have them over her boots until she is mounted and on the horse. Then someone can take them off. Getting from the car onto the horse, will inexplicably get mud on her shoes which will transfer onto her dress. This prevents that! They don't look appealing, but no one else needs to know

Make sure someone is walking at the front/beside the horse. Even if the rider is experienced. Perhaps wear smart show gear so it all looks smart?

Have a back up plan for if it rains!

If I can think of anything else, then I'll let you know

 

[Wimbles]

More good ideas, cheers!! Fantastic thoughts about the boots and surgical shoe covers!

The horse in question has had much experience of being dressed up like a tit so I'm hoping that he will be fine with it. He has had to learn to put up with a lot over the past eight years of living with me and my bright ideas!

Tomorrow we're getting the bride to come over and we have sheets and bubble wrap (for the added noise effects) to try on him. I will of course get on him first to test pilot it as we know each other well. Can anyone think of anything else we could try?

I will be walking alongside but I'm a scary prospect in cream jods so was just going for the black trouser and top look lol!!

I can't tell you how grateful the bride is so I hope it all works out. I would hate to have something like that happen to me so close to the big day so I'm really pleased to be able to help

Here's the boy in question with some of the stuff he's had to endure - I'm very lucky to have him

Christmas ride

Halloween

The village scarecrow competition

 

[ebonyallen]

Not with riding a horse to a wedding, but anyone we know that has a horse, we have always taken their horse to the church as a surprise for when they come out. We do the whole horse out in white ribbons in the plaits and tail, plus large one around the neck. The smile on their faces when they come out and we have brought their horse is just amazing.

 

[chestnuttyy]

Not with riding a horse to a wedding, but anyone we know that has a horse, we have always taken their horse to the church as a surprise for when they come out. We do the whole horse out in white ribbons in the plaits and tail, plus large one around the neck. The smile on their faces when they come out and we have brought their horse is just amazing.

Do you have any pics?! Planning to do this for a friend and would love some ideas

 

[Trolt]

Something else I thought of - make sure someone has baby wipes on hand! They get dirt off horses spectacularly! Great for wiping up if the horse has slobbered etc.

As mean as it sounds, restrict food (and treats) before, and during the pictures etc. Otherwise your horse will produce slobber - and that will end up on the dress! Specifically important is no grass - green slobber does not come off dresses!

Never actually got a horse ready for a wedding, but have got horses prepared for Quadrille (and groomed for Quadrille at Olympia) so I'd trying to remember all the things we did.

We've gone through all sorts of methods to get horses used to dresses, shoe covers are just priceless for when they're getting ready in the mud and we don't want mud transferred to the dresses!

If I can think of anything else, I'll let you know.

Does your horse know the location of wedding? Is the route you're going one you normally hack? I would make sure your horse has been there and had a look prior. A test run so to speak. Else there will be a killer daffodil that he needs to look at Slight overkill, and perhaps not something everyone would deem necessary, but as it's someone else riding your horse, I think I'd want to take every precaution possible.

 

[Wimbles]

I think Monty missed his calling in life after seeing your photos!

We have hunted at the venue before but will go for a sedate walk at some point before the day as I want to suss out where we can park, get the bride mounted etc.

You've been really helpful though with all your tips though!