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For this former NHL defenceman, horse-driving has a lot in common with his favourite sport.
“It’s not really work when you love what you do. It’s no different from when I played hockey,” Rich Pilon told CBC.
Pilon, who played for the New York Islanders, New York Rangers and St. Louis Blues during his 15-year NHL career in the 1980s and ’90s, said he started leading events with horse-drawn wagons in 2022. His organization, Horses & Hockey — Let’s Talk, aims to promote mental health for kids.
Pilon applied on Dec. 5, 2023 for a business licence to operate in Saskatoon. After a pilot project, the city’s transportation committee unanimously approved moving forward to a city council vote on a regulatory framework to allow horse-drawn carriage rides in the city.
Rich Pilon says he’s been with horses since he was four years old. (Submitted by Rich Pilon)
The rides are great for kids and have been part of a variety of events, including Back to Batoche Days and Sikh community celebrations, he said.
“I don’t advertise, I don’t do anything because I’m so busy already.”
Jay Magus, the city’s director of transportation, said the upcoming council vote “creates an established regulatory process for horse-drawn vehicle businesses in Saskatoon which will allow for safe operations of horse-drawn vehicles in our city.”
The proposed framework includes requiring a Class 5 driver’s licence, following applicable traffic rules, providing adequate space for cyclists and cleaning up after the horses.
Natasha Quigley’s horse ranch aims to teach life skills, improve self-awareness and build confidence with the help of horses.
A key part of horse-driving in Saskatoon is staying off busy streets, Pilon said.
“You’re just trying to put yourself in the best position to give people a safe ride and make sure everybody has a lot of fun.”
Other Canadian cities have seen pushback from people worried about the welfare of the horses.
Montreal banned all commercial horse-drawn carriage tours in 2020; city officials cited cases of horses being injured or in distress.
Pilon said taking good care of his horses comes from knowing them well, and he usually doesn’t have them out for more than three hours.
“They’re truly getting taken care of. Something that you need won’t get abused,” he said.
“They’ve got a limit that I know that I don’t go past.”
A report compiled by city staff listed six other cities in western Canada that allow horse-drawn vehicles: Winnipeg, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Victoria.
