Horse & Buggy Ride, Sevilla

I have been in Sevilla for 2 out of the 3 months I will spend here. One of the nicer things about this city is the presence of beautiful horses and buggies which, while being very expensive, just add to the experience of being in such a beautiful city. The big fat "however," though, is that I have now witnessed about 7 different abusive acts on these horses by their owners. In each case, the owners were backing the horses up (hooked up to their carriages), which seems very distressing to the horses, so they don't cooperate very well while backing up. The horses are clearly disturbed by backing up like this and since they don't cooperate, the owners don't seem to like that. In the instances I witnessed, I watched an owner kick his horse in the stomach with the toe of his boot. There is not a chance in (you know where) that the horse was not hurt by that. I have watched others punch their horses in the neck and sides. I am not talking about taps, I am talking about punches intended to hurt these animals. Today I witnessed it again and I stepped in and started yelling at the guy to stop. The other horse owners nearby just laughed at me. I am absolutely disgusted about it and I cannot imagine what other abuses the horses have to endure. I don't know where to go with this, but you are supposed to report it to the local police, whom I have been told will absolutely not step in because they don't want to disturb the tourism. I wish I knew what to do! Please don't support this... please don't hire a horse and buggy ride, in any city. The owners treat the animals like tools and not like living beings.

1 more image

This sight of a line-up of horses and their carriages in Plaza del Triunfo caught our eye as we wandered around behind the Cathedral and beside La Giralda tower. The nicely shaped orange trees lining the side of the square added that special little touch to the scene!

Although we did not actually take a tour, for approximately 30-35 Euros you can arrange for about a 40-minute tour of some of the major attractions of downtown Sevilla, with the carriage capable of handling up to four passengers for that price. Sounds like quite a comfortable way to get an overview of the old quarter of the city while the driver explains some facts about the various sights you will see on the way. We were there at just after 11 AM on a Monday morning in late December and all seemed quiet as not many customers had yet turned up in this off-peak time of year.

1 more image

An interesting and even a romantic way of touring the city is by a horse drawn carriage. Afternoon tours booked through Viator online are only from July to August. You can find the starting point for these tours around the Cathedral. Ph (954) 924 015

It is easy to get lost in the small streets and alleyways of Sevilla, but the closer you are to the Cathedral, the more horse and buggy stuff. It was a bit too warm to buggy about and I did not inquire about prices. The buggys were pristine and the horses looked in good shape. Most were lined up by the Cathedral.

I have never ride a horse cart to make a tour for Seville, mainly because I'm not a tourist here, but I think it could be interesting to somebody who is the first time in town. There are some "horse stops" in the city centre and you say to the horseman what kind of tour you want to do. They are next to Hotel Alfonso XIII (Puerta de Jerez), in front of the Archive of the Indies (Avenida de la Constitución) and behind the Cathedral (Plaza Virgen de los Reyes)

Nunca he montado en un coche de caballos para dar un paseo por Sevilla, principalmente porque no soy un turista aquí, pero pienso que podría ser interesante para alguien que visite la ciudad por primera vez. Hay algunas "paradas de caballos" en el centro de la ciudad y debes indicar al cochero que tipo de circuito turístico quieres hacer. Están junto al Hotel Alfonso XIII (Puerta de Jerez), frente al Archivo de Indias (Avenida de la Constitución) y detrás de la Catedral (Plaza Virgen de los Reyes)

Horse and carriage rides - as in other cities - are popular with tourists and can be quite pricey. Expect to pay around 35 euros per hour. It is a romantic way to see the gardens of Parque Maria Luisa though. Carriage points can be found at the cathedral or at Plaza de Espana in Parque Maria Luisa.

2 more images

Another way to see the city is by horse-drawn carriage, these are available by the cathedral in Plaza Virgin de los Reyes where the drivers and their carriages wait in line. Both the horses and the traditional-style carriages are immaculately turned out. The route is a trot around the more accessible streets of Barrio Santa Cruz during which the driver may provide some commentary. Cost varies according to season. Environmentally-friendly and romantic!

At every tourist point, like the cathedral, you will find a collection of horsedrawn carriages. You can take a tour in them. The driver will take you along the main tourist attractions and will tell something about it too.