Business Offers Horse and Carriage Trips Back in Time [VIDEO]

Driving through Natick in your car, you may have at one time or another been surprised to come across a beautiful white horse gracefully stomping down the street, pulling an antique carriage behind it. And if you've ever come across this carriage with oil lanterns on either side, you may have admired it and waved, but never stopped to wonder about the drivers in traditional attire behind the reigns.

Last Spring, Mary Murphy and her partner Shawn Beck decided to start Capital Whips Hack & Livery, a carriage company based in South Natick, to give customers in the area authentic carriage tours. They purchased B.B., a 12-year-old white horse and two wagons—one, a modern interpretation of a traditional wagonette, and the other, a restored antique wagon from 1875 with original lamps, which they bought from a neighbor.

Starting the business has been a long-time dream of Murphy's throughout her 20 years of experience.

The Illinois native drove carriages across Chicago near where she grew up for six years, before deciding to 'get serious' and put her college degree in graphic design to use. It wasn't until she was laid off until she decided to return to her passion.

“I thought, I really need to do something different, so I got rid of all my possessions and I moved to Europe for six months,” she said, laughing. She lived in Germany and worked as a driver for six months, taking four-day trips by horse and carriage through the Bavarian countryside to the Alps and back. After returning to the states and visiting a horse trainer friend in Boston, Murphy was convinced to stay and she soon met Beck and they started the business together.

Here in Natick, Beck and Murphy offer four different tours around town for families and couples at a rate of $1 per minute. Customers can choose an hour and a half long trip to the and the waterfall on the Charles River, or a ride to the Sunshine Dairy. Those who chose the Dowse's Orchard route can stop and enjoy a picnic. The 45-minute route to Natick Common, Murphy said, is perfect for families with children who may want to stop at Capital Whips also offers rides for weddings and other special occasions at a rate of $600 for four hours. Couples can ride to the church in the carriage, which will be waiting for them outside after the wedding ceremony. Customers can also choose their own routes around town as the company can legally travel on any road with a speed limit no faster than 35 miles per hour.

Along the way, B.B.'s trotting lulls you into relaxation as she passes by barking dogs in yards and cars on the street, seeming to hardly even notice.

“You just kind of slow down and listen to her hooves on the pavement and the creak of the harness and the rumble of the wheels and you sort of become very central and aware of all these noises around you. You probably drove down this road a million times and maybe you never noticed that person has roses in their yard or whatever,” said Murphy, as residents waved and shouted hello from the deck of their home along the street.

The couple's next project is to repair an antique sleigh made in Worcester in the mid-1800s, which they found buried an old barn across the street. "It was the Cadillac of all sleighs back in the day because it's on springs and it's real plush," said Beck. The sleigh may be used in future tours once repaired.

Beck, who had not had much experience with large animals in the past, has come to enjoy the business and working with B.B.

"It's opened my eyes to a whole appreciation of history, the way the whole country was put together," he said. "All this hard work and I can go for a drive and it's all worth it."

"You have to slow down every once in awhile," added Murphy. "These days, everybody is trying to do 10 things at once. Once in awhile you've just got to chill out and relax and enjoy the scenery."

Capital Whips Hacks and Livery offers rides on weekends and by special appointment. Call 508-314-8516 to schedule a ride and visit the company website or Facebook page for more information.