What is life without dreams? Whether possible or impossible, just the thought of making a dream a reality brings immense pleasure to the dreamer.
One dream that has come true is a new mode of transportation for Barbados in the form of a horse and carriage called Dream Buggies Barbados Ltd.
Dream Buggies has been in existence for two months and has been in the making for about a year. “We had our maiden run a couple Sundays ago with a birthday ride for 76-year-old Doreen Croney. Since then we have had some exposure and we are getting calls from across Barbados,” said Julian Armstrong, sales manager of the company.
“We are looking to introduce a new mode of transportation for the Barbadian public as it relates to weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, any type of occasion along those lines. Or you may just want to ride in a buggy because you never have before,” he informed EASY while on location at the historic Garrison area.
The company is the brainchild of Patrick McDonald. He and business partner Armstrong launched the venture. “We are very pleased to produce such a concept to Barbados because it is long overdue and . . . we really expect it to take off and become a big thing,” he said.
Jazz, a 12- year-old Clydesdale horse, is the spectacle which makes Dream Buggies a dream. His breed, which is originally from Clydesdale, Scotland, is known for being a tall breed, and Jazz is no different.
Weighing in at 2 200 pounds, he is “graceful and docile”. “When people see Jazz they usually say “Wow!” and want to take pictures with him. If you never loved horses before, you definitely would after an encounter with Jazz,” said Armstrong, laughing heartily.
“Jazz is a darling. He loves to show his wonderful, splendorous self off. And he loves the buggy, pulling it so gracefully like he was born to do it,” said Armstrong with a smile on his face.
“A normal horse is 1 100 pounds, but it is amazing to see that his maintenance is the same as any other horse. He eats the usual “two tots” of feed like other horses, a little more if he is working, because his stomach is just as small as other horses despite his Hulk-like stature.
“Although some would say he is old, I like to think of him more as experienced so we don’t have to worry about accidents or anything scaring him while he is on the road pulling the carriage. His breed is usually found in Florida and although I do not know how long he has been in Barbados, I got him from another gentleman who had him on the island,” said the sales manager.
Tramaine Edwards, driver of the carriage, is well trained in buggy operations after successful completion of a riding course to operate the buggy. “And he is now fully geared to take you almost anywhere in Barbados,” disclosed Armstrong.
The carriage, which had to be licensed like any other vehicle in order to go on the road, is fully equipped with brakes and indicators to alert other drivers when it may be slowing down or turning. And although it is an expensive operation to maintain, the management of Dream Buggies has made it affordable to the public. “Already we have had several bookings for birthday parties and weddings in the near future. One lady called me just last week and booked us for her wedding next year so business is progressing.
“We also have another horse coming to go along with our white buggy to ensure coverage for all bookings. Our next horse is a thoroughbred horse named Old Brigand, who has retired from racing and really was never made for racing. He is just graceful with his trot,” added Armstrong.
At that moment, one man who was passing along the stretch, commented “If this was in existence when I got divorced I would have had you waiting outside the courthouse with a bottle of champagne to celebrate”, before continuing along his way, with laughter from those around trailing behind him.
The biggest challenge for Armstrong is the weather. “We do have some challenges when the rain falls. Just the other day I was talking to one of our guys to have a wet weather plan. After all, if someone has a wedding, rain is not going to stop their plans, so we would like to follow through with the carriage. We have some ideas in mind and we are hoping within the near future to execute them to still make it all happen regardless of the weather,” he added.
As for the future of Dream Buggies, it looks bright. “Going forward, we believe that Dream Buggies will grow. People are always getting married, someone always has a graduation, and they are always looking for the next best way to do it in style.
“I truly believe this is the way forward. And as you look around, everything is about getting bigger and better and more beautiful with time. And this here is the climax of beauty in terms of transportation,” Armstong concluded.
