The state of Pennsylvania, in the USA, is home to a significant population of Amish. As a matter of religious practice, the Amish do not embrace modern technology. In fact, they still drive horse-drawn carriages.
I appreciate that we tend to take the mickey out of big business here on somewhat of a regular basis, but I’d like to give credit where credit is due. When I pulled into a Walmart somewhere in the middle of Pennsylvania, I was surprised to see that Walmart had accommodated its local customer base by installing a hitching post for use by those arriving by horse-drawn carriage.
Sure you might say, it’s a simple and probably inexpensive effort, but in reality it’s probably a more involved process. Although it hadn’t rained in days, the ‘horse-parking’ area was rather free of dung, which suggests that Walmart may be having the droppings cleared. Being America, there must be insurance implications for ‘horse-parking’ and yet Walmart has taken those on too.
Anyway, I was pleased to see the extra touch and applaud Walmart for its efforts.
Wow! Nice going.
I don’t know that I’d have recognized that as as a hitching post unless there was a horse there at the time. It’s a bit far from the door, but perhaps someone used to riding on one-horse power doesn’t mind a walk?
@ Conall –
Not sure I would have recognised the hitching-post as such had I not seen a horse tied to it.
As for distance from the entrance, I imagine that Walmart must have consulted with its Amish customers about that. I can see not wanting it too close, to avoid having its car-driving customers step over the horse dung.
It is hard to tell from the photo, but perhaps the horse was “adorned” with a “poop bag” so as to avoid droppings landing willy-nilly on public streets. That might account for the lack of droppings noted.
@ Meaghan,
I think you may be right! I went back to the original photos that I took of the horse and, although I am not really familiar with horse-poop-catchers, there does seem to be something at the back-end of the horse.
@ Liam,
I know that the horse drawn carriages one sees around downtown Milwaukee (and, I suppose other cites as well) are all required to have those bags. City laws require it.
I see it. The horse-poop catcher is there and is present. I see the buckle of the harness near the back end of the horse. It is more than just a law. These contraptions allow for the bugey to move without being stuck in the ‘mud’ during a turn.
@ meaghan and pat – you guys are just a little too familiar and knowledgeable about the “poop catcher”. It kind of creeps me out more than just having the poop lay there on the street.
Meaghan and Pat – how do you even KNOW the words “poop catcher” and “poop bag”? I am disturbed.
@ Noel — what else would you call a bag that does just that — catch poop.
@ Meaghan – can’t say I’ve given it much thought. Until now that is. Thanks for that.
trust me — if you ever get stuck behind a horse-n-bugey on a country highway, you become very familiar with poop catchers.
I just love how our efforts to praise corporate America for looking out for a small section of its customer base has descended into a discussion of horse poop.