ca 1983 bay Belgian x Morgan gelding
Retired carriage horse from Philadelphia
(To read Bud's story from his point of view, or as he would say, "the correct point of view," click here.)
Bud is the official mascot of Blue Star Equiculture. He represents what a healthy working draft horse can accomplish in his lifetime.
Bud’s known history begins in 1990 at the New Holland Auction in Lancaster, Pa., when he was still quite young. He was a skinny, underdeveloped horse, who few people saw much promise in—few, that is, except the people at 76 Carriage Company in Philadelphia, PA. He was bought, immediately started putting on weight, and spent a couple of years perfecting the art of pulling carriages. He would go on to work 18 years in Philadelphia, bringing joy to the thousands of visitors who took tours with him, the many happy newlyweds who got married via Bud-drawn transportation, the countless children who took Christmas rides, and even the viewers of National Geographic’s television documentary on the Book of Revelation, who witnessed Bud and friends portray the Four Horses of the Apocalypse.
In 2008, after successfully battling a bout of seedy-toe founder in his front right foot, Bud was diagnosed at New Bolton Equine Hospital with idiopathic epilepsy. Bud now must take medicine twice a day to prevent seizures. No one is certain what triggered the epilepsy but, unfortunately, it brought about his early retirement. 76 Carriage Company wanted Bud to live out his life in the comfort of green pastures, surrounded by his human friends who understand what a special horse he is. (Pam learned how to drive a carriage from learning to drive Bud, and Bud was Christina’s first regular carriage horse; she drove him every workday, five days a week, for nine months.)
Bud still does not understand why he cannot work; he loves his job and oftentimes you will find him hanging out with his carriage, as if to say, "Hey, let’s go out for a ride!" We take him out for pleasure drives, yet he spends most of his time with his friends, both human and horse. Huey Khan has taken a particular liking to Bud, and it was Bud who, having literally seen it all in the big city, taught Huey the courage to face new things and a new life.
Bud is loved everywhere he goes and adores attention. Bud still has many years ahead of him and we hope people view Bud as our example of what a happy working horse can achieve.
Bud checks out Blue Star Equiculture's meadowbrook cart. He approves.
Bud loves living on the farm, though he is not at all enamored with pulling a carriage on dirt roads. He will happily and cheerfully go for a drive on asphalt and in traffic, but now absolutely refuses to take a drive around the farm fields! As far as Big City Bud is concerned, it's uncivilized!
Bud loves to go for a nice drive on the civilized paved roads of Palmer and then to come back to his farm paddock for a nice nap.
We often wonder what Bud dreams about... Pulling carriages and getting treats? Eating ALL the hay? Outwitting Huey and Cupcake for their grain? Or maybe Bud dreams about Blue Star Equiculture. Sometimes we think this is all Bud's dream and we just happen to be living in it.