horses returning!

Horses are one of the first things that come to mind when thinking of Mackinac Island.

Q: Where are Mackinac Island horses during the winter?

As the season starts to wind down after Labor Day, most Mackinac Island horses are walked to the boat dock and ferried to the mainland. Then, most of them ride in trailers to farms in Pickford, Mich. In the Upper Peninsula where they have an abundance of acreage to roam free and feed.

Q: How many horses come to Mackinac Island for the season?

Mackinac Island Carriage

Q: What do Mackinac Island horses do?

Most horses pull freight drays, taxis or tour carriages. About 70 are saddle horses for horseback riding.

Q: When do the horses come back to Mackinac Island?

Gradually. The horses start coming back in mid- to late April and eventually, by the middle or end of June, the teams are fully stocked.

Tours has the largest working draft horse herd in the world with more than 400 during peak season.

Cindy’s Riding Stable, Jack’s Livery and Gough Carriages all have several dozen horses through the summer, too, for a total of about 600 horses altogether.

Q: What kinds of horses are on Mackinac Island?

The carriage horses can be Percheron, Standardbred and Belgian. The saddle horses are mostly Quarter horses, Morgans, Appaloosas, Paints or a mix of multiple breeds.

Q: How much do the horses work on Mackinac Island?

In a typical workday, carriage horses work anywhere from 6 to 8 hours and saddle horses range from 2 to 6 hours a day.

Q: Who cares for the horses on Mackinac Island? It takes a team. In addition to barn staff, there are five veterinarians as well as certified farriers who focus on horseshoes and hoof care. Each company takes great pride in the care and well-being of their horses.