FXBG Neighbors Podcast
Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast
FXBG Neighbors Podcast
EP #24 Horse-Drawn Heritage: Inside Olde Towne Carriages of Fredericksburg
Have you ever wondered about those elegant horse-drawn carriages that transport wedding parties and tourists through historic Fredericksburg? Christine Kovacs, owner of Olde Towne Carriages, pulls back the curtain on this charming yet demanding business in our latest episode.
Christine reveals how her lifelong equestrian passion evolved into a unique carriage service that does far more than simple tours. From romantic anniversary rides through Fredericksburg's most beautiful streets to elaborate South Asian Baraat wedding processions - where grooms arrive on white horses amid drums and celebration - her business preserves traditions while creating magical moments. What started as a potential career backup for her son transformed into Christine's own venture, one she remarkably launched while battling breast cancer.
"I am the most persistent and determined person in the whole world," Christine shares, explaining how overcoming cancer shaped her fearless approach to business and life. With refreshing candor, she dispels common misconceptions about carriage horses, explaining that what might look like fatigue to passersby is actually a relaxed, content animal. Her intimate knowledge of equine behavior and welfare shines through as she advocates for the mental stimulation working horses receive compared to their pasture-bound counterparts.
The conversation offers unexpected insights into this specialized industry - from the logistics of transporting horses downtown to the therapeutic qualities of a gentle carriage ride. Christine's story beautifully demonstrates how personal passion can become professional purpose, even through life's toughest challenges. Whether you're planning a special occasion or simply curious about this historic form of transportation, this episode provides a fascinating glimpse behind the scenes. Listen now and discover the surprising story behind those clip-clopping hooves on Fredericksburg's cobblestone streets.
Christine Kovacs
Olde Towne Carriages
infooldetowne@gmail.com
540-371-0094
This is the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Dori Stewart.
Speaker 2:Welcome back to another episode of the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast, where we feature the stories of local legends in the Fredericksburg area. Today we'll be hearing from local legend Christine Kovacs. She is the owner of Olde Town Carriages. Christine, welcome to the podcast.
Speaker 3:Thank you very much.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I'm excited to have you on today, so let's share with the listeners. First, all about your business.
Speaker 3:Okay. So Olde Town Carriages is a what we call full service carriage company, so we do several different things. We're in the city of Fredericksburg doing historical rides, so if someone has an anniversary or a birthday party or they just want to have a little romantic moment with their significant other, they can charter the carriage and we'll take them to the most beautiful parts of Fredericksburg. And then we also do wedding services, where we can bring the bride to the venue or away from the venue. And then the most fun thing that we do is we do Bharat services, which is a South Asian service to a groom who's getting ready to marry. So he rides his white horse to his bride and it's a procession and there's a lot of drums, a DJ, a lot of noise and it's always a lot of fun.
Speaker 2:That sounds like so much fun. So do you coordinate all of the? You know the whole thing like the music, all of that.
Speaker 3:No, we go through certain wedding planners that we've gotten to know really well in the last 15 years. So, but a lot of times you have to explain to the groom and his family what exactly is supposed to happen, because even though they're from India or their parents are from India, they really don't know the whole real tradition of the Bharat. So they kind of get it backwards sometimes and you got to kind of explain no, you guys go first after the DJ and after the drummer, and then I'm at the end and so the the groom is on the horse so he can see everything that's going on. So it's a lot of fun for them too.
Speaker 2:I love that I witnessed one.
Speaker 3:Yeah, it's fun. It's a lot of fun.
Speaker 2:Awesome, so tell us about your background and what led you to starting this business.
Speaker 3:Well, I've always been a horsewoman. I've been riding since I was nine. I went to college, to Averitt College, and I got my degree in business administration and equine science. So I've done about everything you can think of in the horse world taught, rode, competed, and then I just got interested. I actually replied to an ad for a carriage driver downtown Fredericksburg and that's how I got into it.
Speaker 3:I didn't really like it at first, to be honest with you, because I didn't like giving the tour part of it. I was like not into history at that point in my life. And then years later I applied again for another company that was doing it and they said no, we don't want you. And I'm like what? And they said I got, I got a son that can drive. So they hired my son and he worked for them for six years. And then the company became available to buy and me and my son decided it would be a great avenue for him, in case, when he got out of college he didn't have a career. You know. You know when you get out of college it's hard to find a job. It's something he could have done until he found, you know, his career. So we bought it and then he worked through it, through college, and then he decided he wanted to go different ways. And guess who got it? I got it.
Speaker 2:I got it. I love it. Very interesting story there. I love it. So tell me are there any myths or misconceptions that you hear about your industry?
Speaker 3:Yes, a lot. So people will walk up to the carriage and they'll see my horse and she's her head is hanging a little bit straight out from her withers, so her back and her ears are are, you know, level. And I go oh my gosh, she's so tired. I'm like no, she's not tired, she's actually very comfortable, she's resting. And then I go or people ask, why is her foot cocked like that? Is she hurt? I'm like that's also a sign that she's very comfortable and she's resting.
Speaker 3:I mean, our tree that my horses sit under is like their favorite place in the whole world because there's no flies bothering them. They don't have to compete with the bar, you know, with the lean to out in the pasture, so that's their own little spot, that they're really comfortable, that they're really comfortable. And another myth is that it's cruel. And it's really not, because the way that the technology in the horse industry is gone, everything you put on the horse is suited for their comfort and even our carriages like fiberglass, so it's super light for them to pull and they're just like any other animal or person. They need stimulant. You don't want to keep them on a seven acre lot. They get bored. And when they get bored, believe me, they get destructive and they'll escape, and they'll try every little thing that they can to find something to do, so taking them out to the street. They really enjoy it.
Speaker 2:Nice.
Speaker 3:Thank you for just telling us.
Speaker 2:So when you are not busy with your business, what are you doing for fun?
Speaker 3:That's a hard question because in the horse business it's like even when you're not on the street, you're taking care of the horses, so you really don't get a day off per se. Even if you plan a trip, you still got to go out to the barn and clean it and feed the horses before you go, um. But what we do for what I do for business, uh, for um fun is I garden and then I do a lot of horse sports. So I go um, do hunter paces which are kind of like a mock fox hunt, but with no fox, so no animals are hurt. Um, and then just trail riding, and trail riding is really good. It's a real good way to clear your mind and be out in nature. So it's a lot of fun.
Speaker 2:So yeah that's what I do. It does sound very therapeutic.
Speaker 3:Yeah, my horses love it too, so it's therapeutic for them too.
Speaker 2:Nice, nice. So can you describe a hardship or a challenge that you have overcome, that you can now say you're stronger for it?
Speaker 3:Well, believe it or not, the year that I started the carriage company with my son, I came down with breast cancer and it runs in my family. I guess it's genetic and so it was really hard to start the company and deal with the breast cancer. But I am the most persistent and determined person in the whole world so I just worked through it and I think it's Pretty much made me pretty fearless. If I have an idea, I just go for it, because what is the worst thing that could happen? That's what that's my look in my. I guess my saying is what's the worst thing that could happen?
Speaker 2:So, and what a great example for your son to see that fearlessness in you, to see that fearlessness in you.
Speaker 3:Yeah, he had a hard time dealing with it at first, but, yeah, he knows how strong I am. And sometimes, though you don't always wanna be strong, you wanna have to be able to lean on people, so but I'm very private and I kind of internalize stuff, so but I just don't let things get me down. If I think I wanna do something, I just go for it.
Speaker 2:It's a great lesson. Yeah, thank you for that. What is something that you want the listeners to know about your business?
Speaker 3:It's hard work. So sometimes you know people, um, they they'll call and they'll want to ride, and they want it right now. But they don't realize that our horses aren't downtown and that we have a schedule. So we our schedule's there for a reason, because we have to haul the horse in, then harness it and clean the carriage, so it's not a spontaneous thing. So that's why it's important for people to like book our rides in advance. It doesn't have to be like weeks in advance, but maybe like a day in advance or at least in the morning, so it gives us the opportunity to come out and be our best.
Speaker 3:We used to just go out and sit out there, but we don't anymore. It's basically by appointment, but if I do have more than one appointment, we'll just sit up there out there and pick up, walk ups and it's a very pleasant kind of thing to do, very laid back. So if you're in this, been stressed out or anything like getting on a carriage and listening to the hoof beats, it's just so relaxing. Like with people who bring kids, I always said there's two things going to happen your kid is going to be tired of being confined in the carriage or they're just going to go to sleep because it's that pleasurable.
Speaker 2:So yeah, nice. And if the listeners want to book a session with you or get in touch with you, where's the best place for them to find you?
Speaker 3:We do have the webpage, which is www. oldetownecarriages. com, and they can just book their rides straight on the webpage. There's several different types of rides, so you just got to kind of look around and see what best suits you. They can call us. We are really busy so I leave on the voicemail to text us. Don't ever be afraid to text us, I'll get back to you right away. Actually, texting is easier than answering voicemails. But and then if they have a wedding or a special event, they should just leave their name, the date of the event, where it's at, and then I can send them a quote and a contract. So yeah, that's about how.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much, Christine, for joining me on the podcast and sharing your business with us.
Speaker 3:You're welcome.
Speaker 1:Thank you for listening to the Fredericksburg Neighbors Podcast and sharing your business with us. You're welcome.