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Harnessing History: The Horse Tours of Gettysburg Story
Manage episode 494249463 series 3555439
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Ever wondered what it would be like to experience one of America's most pivotal battles the way soldiers did in 1863? Step into the hoofprints of history with Horse Tours of Gettysburg, a family-owned business bringing the Civil War battlefield to life through carriage rides and guided horseback tours.
Doug Stevens, a veteran who served six deployments between Afghanistan and Iraq, founded the company in 2010 as a way to stay connected with horses after sustaining combat injuries. What began as a family operation has blossomed into a thriving business now transitioning to his 6'11" son Spencer and Spencer's girlfriend Jamie, the self-proclaimed "Executive Director of Horseback Riding." Their passion for history, horses, and people creates an experience unlike any other in Gettysburg.
With nine carriage teams and 31 trail horses, the company offers visitors multiple ways to engage with the battlefield's history. Licensed battlefield guides accompany each tour, sharing stories that transport guests back to July 1863 when 34,000 casualties made this the bloodiest battle in North American history. As Jamie explains, "We try to set them up to be safe out there" while ensuring guests gain historical understanding along with their horseback experience.
What sets these tours apart is how they allow guests to experience the battlefield "at the speed of history." Many of the battlefield's wayside markers were designed to be viewed from a carriage, not a car. Guests ride on the same military crests where officers positioned themselves, seeing the landscape through a similar lens as those who fought there. Even more fascinating, some trees that witnessed the battle still contain bullets, occasionally discovered when chainsaws hit metal during maintenance.
In an age dominated by screens and text messages, these tours create space for genuine human connection. As Doug poignantly shares, they once hosted a mother with terminal cancer and her resentful teenage children who transformed from sullen to joyful during their ride, creating lasting memories amid difficult circumstances.
Ready to experience Gettysburg in the most authentic way possible? Book your tour today and discover why thousands of visitors return year after year to see history through the eyes—and from the backs—of horses.
Follow Horse Tours of Gettysburg on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/horsetoursgettysburg/
Check out the website - https://confederatetrails.com/
YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@HorseToursofGettysburg
Find us online at DraftHorsesAndMulesForSale.com
Chapters
1. Introducing Horse Tours of Gettysburg (00:00:00)
2. How the Family Business Began (00:08:21)
3. Love Story: How Jamie Met Spencer (00:16:45)
4. Running Carriage and Horseback Tours (00:26:05)
5. Gettysburg History and Battlefield Experience (00:35:27)
6. Making Meaningful Connections with Guests (00:42:10)
7. The Challenge of Modern Communication (00:49:17)
22 episodes
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