REST IN PEACE October 17, 2011

Approximately 20 year old Percheron gelding.

Charlie Daniel arrived July 21.2010. He is a retired New York City carriage horse.

Charlie Daniel (not to be confused with the famous fiddle player and country rock artist) is a big city boy.  He has worked for several years in New York City for his driver, who boarded him at Chateau Stables in New York.  (You can see pictures of the ca. 1851 stables in Hell’s Kitchen in our facebook photo album from the CONA tour of the New York City carriage barns. Nice digs!)

Charlie D., as he is regularly called, has always been an excellent worker, but as he has aged, he has gotten a little bit slower and his driver was concerned about doing too many rides with him in busy Central Park.

He is blind in one eye, which doesn’t affect him unless he is driven in a pair with his blind eye towards his teammate.  (Then he’ll kick out over the pole, probably because he can’t see that it’s the pole or harness touching him, and not his obnoxious teammate infringing on his personal space!)  When he’s by himself, he gets along fine with only one good eye.

Charlie D. is in excellent health, but is just too slow for full-time work in New York.  He is about 20 years old.  .  Thank you to Anita McGill for telling Charlie D.’s owner about Blue Star Equiculture and thank you to Charlie D.’s owner for retiring him and not selling him to who-knows-where!

He and Carter became instant buddies on the trailer ride from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts.  Look out Belgian Bloc – the Percherons have arrived!

Charlie lives at the University of Massachusetts with Carter and Tom and Mark, educating up and coming teamsters on how to handle and drive for farming or pleasure.

Charlie is in love with Daisy, his Belgian sweetheart, and is always happy when he comes home. He returns to her side and watches her adoringly with his one good eye. He is a devoted boyfriend and reminds Iceman, whenever he gets the chance, that he loved Daisy first!