Horse-drawn carriages may soon return to Saskatoon streets

Floyd Brenz., Philippine Canadian Inquirer
October 08, 2026

Photo Courtesy: CBC News

A familiar sight from another era could soon become part of Saskatoon’s streets again, as city officials move toward allowing horse-drawn carriage businesses to operate under a new set of rules.

The proposed framework follows a pilot project involving former NHL player Rich Pilon, who has been offering horse-drawn wagon rides through his organization, Horses & Hockey, Let’s Talk. Pilon says the rides have become a way to bring families together while supporting his work promoting mental health among children.

City officials are now preparing a regulatory framework that would establish how horse-drawn vehicles can operate safely on public roads. The proposed requirements include a Class 5 driver’s licence, compliance with traffic regulations, adequate room for cyclists and proper cleanup after the horses.

The pilot was created after Pilon spent more than two years seeking approval to operate his business in Saskatoon. His temporary licence included conditions covering passenger safety, vehicle equipment, animal welfare, operating hours and restrictions on certain streets.

For Pilon, who has worked with horses since childhood, the proposal represents an opportunity to bring the activity into a formal system rather than keeping it outside the city’s regular transportation framework.

But the return of horse-drawn vehicles also raises questions about safety and animal welfare. Other Canadian cities have taken different approaches, with Montreal banning commercial horse-drawn carriage tours in 2020 following concerns over horses being injured or experiencing distress.

Saskatoon is instead looking at regulation, with the city saying a formal framework could establish clear standards for businesses and help ensure that both people and animals are protected.

If approved by city council, horse-drawn carriage rides could become a new  and distinctly old-fashioned  addition to Saskatoon’s modern streetscape.

For residents, it could mean seeing horses and carriages not simply as a piece of the past, but as a carefully regulated part of the city’s present.