Horseboats??

Before motor vehicles it was not uncommon for boats to be towed through canals by mules or draft horses, which walked along a towpath adjacent to the canal. In many places, where the canals are no longer used except for pleasure, the towpaths have become pedestrian walks or bicycle paths.

In Britain an organization exists to preserve the tradition of horseboating - that is, towing a boat along a canal with a draft horse. The Horseboating Society brings their horseboats to fairs and events, and performs long-distance trips, with the aim of maintaining access to the canals and of educating the public about this traditional form of transportation.

It sounds like a pleasant way to see the country! The link above has lots of photos, and detailed information about the history and tradition of horseboating.

Comments

[Kirsten Becker]

Hello,

I recently stumbled across your website and it is exactly what I have been searching for. I am currently a senior student at Colorado College and I am interested in learning about different horse cultures first hand. You and your website seem to be an excellent source. I am hoping you could perhaps provide me with some suggestions or information.

I am applying for a Watson Fellowship, which is a grant awarded to graduating students to study a particular topic they are passionate about internationally for one year. So what I want to do is study traditional styles of riding and the cultural significance of horses in several culturally different foreign countries. I would like to spend some time in Europe, Asia, South America, and perhaps Africa. Besides coming up with a plan of places to study in, I also need to find contacts in these countries prior to writing my proposal for this grant. I have found quite a bit of information for possible ideas in Europe and Mongolia. If you have any suggestions about interesting places to study, I would love to hear them. Feel free to email me.

The article on Horseboating was fascinating. Any other such esoteric ideas would be wonderful to hear about.

Thanks!
-Kirsten Becker

kirsten.becker@coloradocollege.edu

[Tamara of In the Night Farm]

Interesting! I just returned from a rafting trip through Hell's Canyon. We floated through the site where Chief Joseph led his people across the Snake River, which has one of the highest flows in the Northwest. The Nez Perce and their possessions crossed on rafts pulled by swimming horses...a feat the pursuing U.S. Army was unable to duplicate.