In this Meet the Experience Provider interview, we had the pleasure of speaking with Gordon, the passionate owner of Little Skipwith Carriage Rides.
Gordon’s journey into the world of carriage rides began unexpectedly when a chance encounter led to the birth of a business that has since flourished. What started as a way to enjoy the beauty of the Yorkshire countryside with his beloved horses has grown into a popular experience for visitors seeking a unique escape.
In this Q&A, Gordon shares the story behind Little Skipwith Carriage Rides, the bond he shares with his horses, and why he loves nothing more than seeing the joy his rides bring to visitors.
Read on to learn more about Gordon’s journey and the special experience he’s offering through Uniquely Local.
What inspired you to start Little Skipwith Carriage Rides?
As a business, it started very organically. I was exercising the horses with the carriage through the village one day. Someone stopped me and asked if they could book a ride.
Before this, the thought of starting a carriage ride company had never crossed my mind. It all started from there.
I have always owned horses and I owned a cleaning business at the time. Initially, I thought the carriage rides were something I could do in my spare time that would help pay for the horses, but it really took off.
We launched in September 2020, at the time we were in and out of lockdown restrictions. Business picked up really quickly because this was during a time when people could only go out in their local area. We were able to offer people a new way to see Skipwith when we were all ready to get outdoors and embrace something different.
Despite the challenges of the time, everything aligned and the carriage rides have really grown from there.
Can you tell us a bit more about the estate and woodland you ride through?
We ride the carriages through Escrick Park, a privately owned estate. It has been owned by the Forbes Adam family for over 350 years. Many people, even locals, have no idea the estate exists. The carriage rides are a great way to give them a peek at the countryside we have tucked away here.
Practically, it is also perfect for carriage rides. It is all off road so it is safe and we don’t have to worry about traffic. It is really peaceful; there are no people and lots of wildlife. And with over 20 miles of tracks we can use, each ride is unique.
Personally, I love the estate because I get to see it transform throughout the seasons on each ride. Watching the trees change colour and the wildlife evolve is a brilliant experience and one of the reasons people come back to ride again and again.
How did you choose your horses or ponies?
We have a total of nine horses and seven of them are used for carriage rides. Several of them are rescues.
Initially, I needed a horse to keep mine company, which is when I connected with Hope Pastures Equine Rescue Centre in Leeds. I had the opportunity to rehome one of their horses at a time when they had a lot of horses in their care.
I have continued to take on rescue horses since then and it has proved hugely successful.
Horses, especially young ones, need something to do. They need the daily physical and mental exercise that the carriage rides offer them.
Pulling the carriages helps the horses manage their weight and keeps them healthy. It also provides them with a purpose which is essential for their mental health too.
I also love that I am able to provide the horses with one to one time and we’re able to build a close bond by working together.
While I have a personal preference for heavy horses, there are no specific requirements I look for when choosing a horse or pony. If I’ve got the space for a horse, whoever is in need will fit right in!
You offer a lovely mix of nature, tradition and comfort – what sort of feedback do you get from guests after their ride?
We receive very positive feedback from our guests, especially about how friendly and welcoming the team is. We’re very proud that our passion for the horses comes across strongly too with people commenting that they are well cared for and we’re very knowledgeable which we love to hear.
People regularly comment on how relaxing the experience is and how beautiful the countryside is, so it’s a real privilege to be able to share that escape with our guests.
Our food gets great feedback too. We love to serve generous portions as we don’t want anyone to leave hungry! And people always tell us what a great way it is to end their carriage ride.
We’re thrilled to hear that so many people love the experience that we’ve been able to give them and hearing their feedback is always a highlight for us.
Are there any moments from past rides that stand out to you – funny, heartwarming or unexpected?
We had a couple from Scotland join us on a carriage ride. I asked them if they were on holiday in the area, but it turns out they had travelled down specifically for the carriage ride experience. And I recently had a similar conversation with a couple from South Wales.
Seeing how far people are prepared to travel just to ride in our carriages is a wonderful reminder of how unique our experience is. There are only a handful of similar experiences in the country and it feels really special to be able to offer something truly one of a kind that is bringing people to Yorkshire from far and wide.
I also have a funny memory that always comes to mind. On one ride the gentleman was chatting to me about the horses, and he was asking me how old they were. He then went on to ask me if I’d had them “since they were puppies.” I was a little taken aback and thought I had misheard him until he asked me again. It still makes me chuckle today thinking about explaining they were once foals and had never, in fact, been a puppy!
What does a day behind the scenes look like for you and your team?
There is definitely a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes! Obviously the horses themselves require a lot of care. Between feeding them, grooming them and clearing the field, a day with a 10am carriage ride starts at 7am for us!
We have to clean all the tack and the carriages daily too. The dirt tracks are a wonderful thing, but it means extra care has to go into cleaning everything after a ride! We also change out the decor on the carriages seasonally using bright artificial flowers in summer and cosy festive decor in winter.
Like any other vehicle, the carriages have to be kept to a high standard with a full service every year where all of the wheels, hubs and bearings are inspected and certified. Then on top of all of that, there are the associated business tasks too like insurance and admin.
We’re now offering experiences to give visitors a taste of what goes on behind the scenes. From spending time grooming and caring for the horses, to hands-on experience driving the carriages, anyone who is interested in what goes into running our carriage rides can come along and try it out!
What do you love most about sharing this experience with others?
The highlight of my day is seeing visitors get off the carriage at the end with a smile on their face and sometimes even tears in their eyes. It just makes me happy seeing people enjoy themselves. Hearing them talk about how lovely it is on the ride around is what makes the job so worthwhile for me.
I also love being able to give people the opportunity to get close to the horses, stroking them and feeding them. We see a whole range of visitors, including elderly people who used to love to ride but can’t do it any more. We give them an opportunity to interact with the horses in a different way and keep that love alive.
We also get plenty of visitors who have never really interacted with a horse before, especially without a fence between them! It is rewarding to see these people who start out wary grow in confidence. Some people who don’t even want to get close to the horses at the beginning are stroking them by the end of the ride. It is nice to be able to introduce people to horses and help them learn more about the animal so they don’t feel afraid of them.
I think it all comes down to sharing my passion for horses with people. Whether they arrive a horse enthusiast or not, it’s great to be able to introduce them to people and spend that time highlighting what incredible animals they are.
Who would be your dream guests to take on a carriage ride? Alive or historical!
We’ve had a few celebrity guests visit for a carriage ride, but, to be honest, we just love to spend time with everyone! We want to welcome people of any age from newborns to centenarians!
We’re also pleased to be able to accommodate people of almost every ability level. We’ve had many visitors in wheelchairs who have been able to pull the car right up to the carriage and climb on board using our carriage with a low step. As long as guests are able to sit upright unaided, we can accommodate almost any ability.
With the exception of icy or extremely hot weather, we’ll be out year round, happily chatting away to every guest who visits us!A big thank you to Gordon for sharing his wonderful story with us. If you’d like to experience the magic of Little Skipwith Carriage Rides for yourself, you can book a carriage ride and afternoon tea as a special treat or as a unique gift for a loved one.