My job takes me through very rural areas of Upstate New York. There’s a large Amish community in the region and I see horses hitched outside of various businesses(including gas stations). No where in New England have I seen this.
So it got me wondering if other parts of America would you see horses-hitched in places you wouldn’t expect to see them.
31 comments
Never seen this
I think OP just came back from 1890.
You answered your own question, its for the Amish in places where Amish live. Thats a very small portion of the country
Yes. But I literally live in Amish country in PA. Lol
Yes. In Amish country, for sure.
However, usually the Amish don’t ride their horses, so even then it isn’t common. They just put the brakes on the carriage or trailer and that’s all it takes. Leave the horses hooked up.
Yes. They’re not everywhere, but in older/historic areas they’re very common. Most are original, some are new and just for aesthetics.
I’m in new England.
I’d put one in front of my house but nobody who lived here ever had a horse lmao. Maybe they used to have one for visitors though. Idk. Not on the top of the list of projects but maybe one day.
Edit: although from my experience reading newspapers most people were using carriages rather than traveling on horseback. Those can be parked without a hitching post. I would imagine most horses knew how to ground tie back then too so you didn’t always need a hitching post. I see them more often at businesses than I do at residential homes. Here is a picture of my town from sometime a long time ago lol with a carriage without a bitching post:
https://imgur.com/a/7TzA0BJ
There are dog leash hitches at the pet store.
LMAO no. Despite the perception that people have of Oklahoma, no one rides a horse to work
Actually (sort of) yes. In Portland Oregon, there are small rings that were built into all the original sidewalks ~ 100 years ago. Specifically for tying up horses. Lots of them still exist, and people now attach toy horses or other trinkets as a joke.
Yes but no one really uses them anymore.
If a place is big on horses, they might have things like that. I know a pizza place in the Albuquerque area that’s horse friendly, and you can hitch them up there while you eat. Although, I’ve only seen it actually happen like once.
Most people with horses here ride them for fun and wouldn’t use them to go to businesses and shop.
Edit: that pizza place actually offers a 10% “Equestrian Discount” if you ride your horse there.
My neighborhood coffee shop had a spot to tie dog leash to. That’s probably the closest.
Dude I live in a metro area of over 6 million and within walking distance of two train stations.
Only horse riding in the area is for recreational purposes in our large park.
Only once have I ever seen someone actually use a horse to actually get around and the only Amish buggy I’ve ever seen
We have lots of hitching posts in Massachusetts. They just aren’t used anymore.
For those that don’t know– [it’s these that are everywhere.](https://hiddeninplainsightblog.com/2012/06/08/a-post-on-posts-or-hold-your-horses/)
Not specifically in my area of San Antonio. I’m on the suburban outskirts.
But, I’ve definitely seen horse hitches in both rural areas and historic downtown areas of the city.
Bike stands are just horse-hitches with a different name
In the area of Kentucky, I lived in, yes. There were Amish and Mennonite communities there.
In rural Northern Nevada, where I live now, no. This is cowboy country. People bring their dogs with them more places than their horses around these parts. Big ol trucks with well trained dogs sitting shotgun.
I have never personally seen this anywhere outside of Amish country.
Of course we do. You think everybody can afford a car?
An old bar/restaurant near-ish me kept around their old hitching post from gawd-knows when. But that’s just their way of humblebragging that they’ve been in business for a really long time.
They really need it too, since if their food was any indication I’d swear they opened last week and the cook is still learning how to use a frying pan.
I have only ever seen it in Amish country in Indiana.
It is rare and nowhere else I have lived or visited has it.
In LAs Angelino Heights, its first “suburb”, there’s a lot of old Victorian homes. And there’s still some hitching posts scattered around, and homes with carriage steps.
Hate to link to Pinterest, [but hard to find photos.](https://www.pinterest.se/pin/532691462175567457/)
You can see some in front of the [houses on both sides of the street here](https://maps.app.goo.gl/TLDpnT12GXTLZaSbA?g_st=ic)
Some do, yes, but I live in an Amish community.
Canajoharie / Ft Plain?
I have seen a horse tied up on a metal parking stop that probably wasn’t meant for that purpose, but that’s it.
Yes. But not because of the Amish lol.
Out by our weekend place in the driftless area of western Wisconsin we are surrounded by the Amish, so yes…. Lots of horses and buggies, and the people we rent to farm the land with draft horses. Quite cool to watch really.
I live in west Texas. There’s a big very modern grocery store nearby and they have a hitching post outside. I personally haven’t seen horses tied up but I know it has happened.
That’s the only one I’m aware of but there are some smaller towns in the area that are in big ranching country that may have some. Guthrie, TX is headquarters for the 6666 Ranch and I would not be surprised if there’s some there.
Some of the rural communities still do.
My father’s first law office was in an old 1900s bank in Arkansas. He had horse hitch rings in the front sidewalk.
I have also seen iron rings embedded in the front porch of a historic home. Those have a much darker purpose — it was the region’s slave block.
You’ll find them along main streets in a bunch of small towns near me. They’re leftovers from pre-car days that were never removed.