How does a horse and cart compare with a car for upkeep?

Question

I've been watching Sherlock Holmes recently, and thought that with fuel running out or becoming too expensive, perhaps we should go back to horse and cart for transport.

There could also be a ban on motorised transport in towns and cities, with exception for essential emergency and delivery vehicles.

Someone would have to be employed to run around with a bucket and spade, of course, but that can be 'recycled'.

How much would 'driving' lessons cost?

And how much would the chancellor put on, say VAT to make up for the loss of revenue?

Just the rambling thoughts of a bored old thing!

OK let's go Forward to horse and cart - with tyres on the wheels and padded seats.
And the odour from the the by product surely is healthier than the fumes from cars.

When I read the first answer I thought 'whoops' have I set the cat amongst the pigeons, but then I read the others and haven't laughed so much for ages (sad thing, I know) and I can see who the survivors will be when we run out of fuel.

So far at least, there's the 'business' end and the accounts taken care of, and did I have a volunteer for the machanics.

I'm sure there's a basis for a TV comedy in there somewhere, I'll have to learn to write.

Answer 1

ok i have done a cost comparison

it was lengthy and took into account the revenue from the by products - ie the manure - and the hire of the carriage and horse for local weddings

and basically the outcome was that if you feed the horses tesco value carrots you will save approx 3 pence each financial year

so go for it!!

Answer 2

Ye Gods a sensible question for a change, i have been pondering on this very query for years now, and i think it would be a damned good idea. Although no doubt the government would want a tax on horse droppings, even though everyone knows it helps the rhubarb grow.

Answer 3

Financially, horsepower by horse is probably cheaper than horsepower by car. As far as the issue of practicality, I will paraphrase my grandmother's story about her experiences with horses as transport:

She said riding on a horse or in a carriage was very uncomfortable. You baked in the summer, froze in the winter and were forever being punished by the road surface - dirt, mud, snow or paving brick. The streets were strewn with horse waste that really stunk in the summer. Far from the image of noble creatures she thought horses were dangerous, ill tempered and stupid. Reliability? Grandma told about her family taking their carriage to church one time when the horse dropped dead right in the street.

So, I will defer to my grandmother's wisdom and say that the image of horses in literature and movies is probably more romantic than practical - whether now or in the past.

Answer 4

The problem with a horse and cart is "engine" repairs. You would need multiple "engines" in case one needed "repair". An animal can't be cured as fast as an engine can be fixed.

Do I see anyone lining up for the jobs of cleaning the streets and parking places?

Answer 5

Doing so would be a massive step backwards for society. We would be abandoning the advanced transportation we have today in favor of a system that was abandoned in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Answer 6

both bride and father ended up in hospital in portsmouth recently when horse pulling carrage to church bolted!cant trust the bastards,thats the bottom line stick with servo assisted brakes,abs,crumple zones,etc.(the bride and her father did make the wedding,althouth a little disshevelled,stop laughing you inconsiderate bastards!)

Answer 7

It is a back ward step yet I reckon its a good idea.The horse muck is fantastic for roses & soil.I would put my name down for picking it up.It would be allow me to set up my own manure buisness.