Kingston Considers Horse and Carriage Rides for Waterfront

City officials in Kingston, New York, are evaluating a proposal from Tullin Ranch to introduce horse and carriage rides along the scenic Rondout Waterfront. During a presentation to the Common Council’s Laws and Rules Committee on October 3, 2023, ranch owner Tammy Bradley Candlin outlined her vision for the service, which would feature a horse named Cindy pulling a refurbished antique carriage along a route from Kingston Point to the area near the Armadillo Restaurant on Abeel Street.

Bradley Candlin, who has a background as a jockey and a deep familial connection to the waterfront, expressed her desire to engage with the community after spending three decades in isolation on her ranch. “I want to share the horse, the carriage and get out in the community,” she stated. Her father, a tugboat captain, had strong ties to the region, further motivating her project.

In her presentation, Bradley Candlin detailed that she has already received permission to train Cindy, a 15-year-old driving horse, along the waterfront. She has been conditioning the horse on the route and reports successful training sessions, including exposure to city traffic and nighttime lighting. The proposed operation would be limited to weekends, running no more than four hours per day.

Bradley Candlin clarified that she does not plan to operate during busy festival weekends due to the heightened noise and activity levels. Instead, she proposed transporting the horse to a location near West Strand, where she would hitch the horse for rides. She has secured parking for the carriage at a private lot near the Irish Cultural Center of the Hudson Valley.

Some members of the Common Council expressed enthusiasm about the initiative. Ruth Katz, representing Ward 8, commented on the charm of the training sessions she observed, while Marissa Marvelli of Ward 3 raised concerns about possible interactions between horses and vehicles. Katz noted that traffic has been manageable during the training sessions, suggesting that cars should naturally slow down near the horse.

Common Council President Andrea Shaut addressed the procedural aspects of the proposal, highlighting the absence of existing regulations for such a service in the city’s code. “We need to write something like that into the code,” she said, indicating that formalizing the proposal would require additional steps.

While discussing operational concerns, Council member Teryl Mickens questioned the necessity of a vendor’s license for the service. Shaut responded that the current regulations do not accommodate this type of operation, thus necessitating a thorough review.

The topic of manure management also emerged during the discussion. Bradley Candlin assured the council that she has handled this issue effectively during her training sessions, stating, “Every time she has pooped, she poops in the trailer when she gets back in.” Furthermore, she addressed concerns regarding the use of a stick for guidance, clarifying that it is only employed when necessary to keep the horse on course.

As city lawmakers continue to deliberate on the proposal, further discussions are planned with Kingston’s Corporation Counsel to explore the necessary regulatory framework. The outcome of these discussions could determine whether horse and carriage rides become a reality for residents and visitors of Kingston’s waterfront.