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What is a Horse Drawn Caravan?

The caravan
The caravan is designed to be as comfortable and
as compact as possible - yet light enough for one
horse to pull.
Accommodation
It has sleeping accommodation for 4 (or
sometimes 5) persons, and a cooker,
sink/wash-basin, kitchen equipment and seating to
allow holiday meals to be prepared and served in
the caravan. Internal lighting is also provided.
The diagram below shows the lay-out of a typical
modern horse-drawn caravan.
History
This kind of caravan has been used with
modifications for over 150 years by Irish people
living a nomadic life-style. Today's `Travelling
People' or 'Travellers', as they are now called,
inhabit modern trailer caravans pulled by vans or
lorries and very seldom live in horse-drawn
caravans. These itinerant people have a
long-established interest and involvement in the
breeding and training of draught horses. Many of
the quiet horses used by our visitors have their
origin in the breeding pool developed by these
`Travellers'.
Practical Information
- It contains compact and cosy seating and
berths for four persons (Sometimes operators
provide a fifth bed, sometimes at extra
cost)
- Bedding and sheets are provided. Visitors
should bring their own towels.
- A twin-flame or four-flame gas cooker,
cooking and cleaning utensils, water container,
crockery, cutlery and tea-towels, are all part
of the kitchen equipment.
- Lighting is provided by gas, electricity,
electric batteries, or candles.
- The sink/wash-basin, the table,
hanging-space, drawers, shelves and built-in
cupboards complete the picture.
- A horse-drawn caravan is about 5 metres long
(about 7 metres with horse yoked), over 2 metres
wide and weighs maximum 750 Kg.
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| Horse
Drawn Caravans in Ireland |
| Caravan | Driving
| Harness | Horses
| Ireland | Overnight
| Practical Guidance |
| Contact | Irish Tourist
Boards |
Information available in:
| English | French
| German |
Hosting kindly provided by a Wicklow-based firm (located just south of Dublin).
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