Just a note from New Orleans, La., where we’re in attendance for the American Horse Publications annual convention.

This is one of those times where I’m on the fence about a topic: carriage horses/mules.

New Orleans has some of the better-looking mules pulling carriages, although I saw one today that was probably about a Grade I lame on his left fore, and one that had a towel under his harness (just an assumption that he was sore for some reason, but it could have been to cover a harness sore or take pressure off getting stitches from some incident at the barn … who knows).

I love taking carriage rides as tours in cities. But it always worries me when I see slight indications of animals not at their best. These mules had a turn at fresh water regularly, caulking on their shoes, their feet looked pretty good, all were in good shape physically (not too fat or thin). There were some leg blemishes, but nothing you wouldn’t see at most county horse shows or trail rides