Horse & Carriage Experience
Experience the elegance of a traditional horse and carriage service in Otago and Southland.
Perfect for weddings, formals, and special occasions, our beautifully maintained carriage and well-trained horses add a touch of timeless charm to your event.
Embark on an unforgettable journey with this romantic horse drawn carriage ride, which adds that fairytale element to your special day.
We all have that deep desire to make our wedding day truly unforgettable. It’s a moment we want to cherish forever, with memories etched into our hearts.
Set the tone for your event when you climb aboard your carriage. Sit back, relax and take in the views, as the horse drawn carriage takes you to your venue.
Prepare to make the most spectacular arrival before all of your guests. We'll help to make your wedding day even more special by not only taking you to the venue, we'll also wait outside as you exchange vows, and then give you the perfect opportunity to capture those timeless moments with special wedding photos.
Meet Your Operators
Lyn and Clayton Chittock are a husband and wife team and live on a farm in Roxburgh, Central Otago, where Buster and Lucy their friendly Clydesdales enjoy the most wonderful farm life.
Lyn grew up riding ponies and later went on to drive and ride racehorses. Eight years ago, she bought her first Clydesdale, Buster, and this year, Lucy has joined their farm as well. Both horses are 17years old and love to work.
Riding and driving the Clydesdales was a passion reserved for Lyn, Clayton and friends personally until 2023 when they established Horse & Carriage Experiences to allow others to enjoy the fun and elegance of this activity.
Lyn is your driver while Clayton tows the horse float with Buster and helps to harness up in preparation of a gig. Clayton is also the footman on the carriage and will help you to embark and disembark should you need it. They are a team and couldn’t do it without each other.
Photo Gallery
Frequently Asked Questions
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What happens in bad weather? Can we reschedule?If you have booked a photo shoot at an outdoor location which is reliant upon pleasant weather and we need to reschedule due to rain, we simply choose another date when we are mutually available.
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Are there other frames available besides those displayed in our online gallery?Yes, there are! The frames that are available through your online gallery are those produced by Queensberry, New Zealand. They are a classic box style frame in a limited range of colours: gold, black, white, oak, grey woodgrain, silver, and a gold/silver metallic blend. We also have a range of frames in our office that you are welcome to come in an see, or we can email you photographs of our mouldings so that you can choose from the comfort of your home. Prices will vary depending on size and materials. Some frames are more expensive than others to produce. When you know which photographs you would like to have printed and you have an idea of the size you would like, we can talk frames and provide you with a quote. You also have the option of DIY printing and framing; however, we do warn you that even though your images have been professionally edited, the fact is, you could send the same digital photographs to ten different printers and receive ten different results. We stand by our printers and framers whom we trust and work with for all of our printing and framing, because we know we're going to get back a product that accurately reflects the work we have produced. If you choose to go elsewhere, we cannot guarantee the quality that you receive.
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What products are available for purchase?We have a great variety of quality finished products available to you to suit almost any budget. * Loose fine art prints which are sold individually and start at $150 for an 8x12" (A4) * Canvases * Framed photographs * Queensberry albums * Reveal box collections * Wall art packages for feature wall displays There really is something for everyone. Most people tend to budget between $1000 and $3000 for their final collection but there is no pressure to buy and no judgement on the amount you choose to spend. It's important to us that you enjoy the whole experience, from planning your photo shoot to choosing your finished products. For a full price list, please email or call in to the studio.
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What should we wear?I’m so pleased that you asked. The time and effort that you put into selecting the right clothes for everyone in your family who is going to be in your photographs, the happier you will be when you see your end product. You are going to be looking at these images for many years to come and clothing can make all the difference. Think about how you can co-ordinate outfits through colour and style. You still want individual personality and taste to shine, so I don’t mean making everyone match exactly but I do encourage you to work to a similar tonal range so that you all look connected. Style is key too, you want to look like you’re all dressed for the same occasion. Smart casual is most popular but as long as you have consistency of theme, it’ll work. Soft neutral colours photograph the best. When we’re looking at your photographs, we want the focus to be on your expressions and your connectedness rather than being distracted by your clothing. Things to avoid are bold patterns, large motifs or branding otherwise it might look like your photos have been sponsored! Also, consider how each of your outfits look together as a collective. For example, mum’s cherry red and black striped top might clash with your daughter’s hot pink skirt. If you have time, lay all your outfits out on the bed or floor and see how they look. Do you like what you see? Another thing to consider is where your photographs are likely to be displayed. Will they feature on a lounge room wall? If so, take a look at your décor and perhaps draw inspiration from the colours of the room. You may have orange cushions on your sofa and so having a couple of orange accessories in your photos could make them pop and give your wall display some real WOW factor. If you’re still unsure about your outfit choices, wear layers and bring additional items in a bag so that we have more to work with. We are happy to help you make decisions around clothing to achieve the best results for you. Textures and accessories can be fun. Hair & Make Up & Grooming (There are tips for guys in this as well) I can’t emphasise enough what a difference professional hair and make-up makes to photo shoots for the women. You will look and feel amazing and it will give your confidence a boost before you step in front of the camera. It’s one of the reasons I love shooting in the studio so much, we get to control the light, shadows, there is no wind blowing your hair across your face – conditions are perfect. We work with professional hair stylists and make up artists from the Gore region. You’re looking at $185pp for a makeover which includes both hair and make-up. Please let us know when you book if you would like this service. Now for some tips for the guys! It’s always good to come to the shoot well groomed. That could mean clipping your beard, having a shave, checking ears and nostrils for stray hairs, maybe giving the eyebrows a once over. We care about you looking your best as well! Hands are often in shot and while they aren’t the focus, it may draw your eye if you have dirty fingernails. Before we start taking photos, it’s always good to empty your pockets. There is nothing worse than seeing phones, keys, sunglasses, etc sticking out of a pocket or the outline of them, they can create all kinds of weird body lines. Hats will shade your face and cast shadows so unless it’s a prop adding to the theme, it’s best to take them off and avoid hat hair. Sunglasses hide your eyes and cast reflections, often of the photographer – you don’t want me photobombing your family portraits. Check your wrists for hair ties! Props Props can be great for photos. If we’re shooting on location and there is a an old truck in your paddock, a fence that you love, a hay bale, a gorgeous country themed rug or something that you would like to incorporate just let us know.
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How long does it take to get our finished products?Digital images will be provided to download via a link that we email you, sometime between 7-14 days after you photo shoot, provided that your final invoice has been paid. Images will not be released until they have been paid for in full. Regarding wall art (frames and canvases), they will either be sent directly to your home or to our studio, depending on where you live, and they take between 3-6weeks from the day of order.
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Can I buy digital images?Digital photographs are included as part of the package for $775.
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Can I come back and buy wall art or an album later?"We retain our digital images for an extensive period of time, however, we can't guarantee that we will always have your photographs. Living in a digital age, it is possible for computers to be attacked by viruses or for hard drives and storage drives to give out. We have a number of backup systems in place for security but don't like to make promises beyond our control. It is important that you create backup copies of your photographs when you receive them, just to be safe. We will always be happy to help you with framing, canvases, and albums.
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Do you offer gift vouchers?We can provide gift vouchers to any amount that you nominate to suit the photo shoot and/or products that you would like to gift. Please call or email us so that we can talk through the gift that you would like to give.
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Can we bring our pet to the shoot?Yes, absolutely - we love working with animals. If you’re bringing a pet to your shoot, it’s good to think about their appearance too. A nice clean coat, a collar to match your outfits, or no collar at all. If your pooch is not going to feature in all of the photos and is at risk running around without supervision, let us know and we can bring a corkscrew lead that creates an anchor in the grass and secures them to an area. That way you can relax without distraction so that we can get the photos you're wanting more easily, knowing that your pet is safe. It might also pay to bring a water bowl for them, especially on a hot day.