Horse-Drawn Funeral Carriage Services

A horse-drawn funeral carriage carries a loved one at a walking pace, in a white hearse carriage or on a military caisson, drawn by white Percheron horses with a uniformed driver at the reins. AJ Carriage and Livery arranges the procession with your funeral director in Charlotte, Raleigh and across North Carolina, and answers a request as soon as the date is known.

What is a horse-drawn hearse?

A horse-drawn hearse is a carriage built to carry a casket, pulled by one or two horses instead of an engine. The body is enclosed, with glass sides, so the casket and the flowers beside it can be seen as the procession passes.

The carriage is white. So are the horses: Percheron draft horses, a large, quiet breed chosen for a steady temperament around crowds, music and long pauses. A professionally uniformed driver walks them at the pace of a person on foot.

That pace is the reason families choose it. A motor hearse moves quickly and quietly from one place to the next. A horse-drawn hearse asks everyone to slow down for a few minutes, to walk behind or stand at the roadside, and to watch. The procession becomes part of the service rather than the gap between two parts of it. Guests remember the sound of the hooves, and the horses standing still at the graveside.

Which carriage suits the service?

Two carriages are reserved for funerals. Your funeral director can help you choose, and the team will answer any question about either one.

	White hearse carriage	Military caisson
Design	Enclosed body with glass sides; the casket rides inside	Flat, open wagon; the casket rests on top
Suits	Traditional, religious and civilian services	Full military honors for veterans and service members
Casket	Standard casket sizes fit inside	Flag-draped casket secured on the bed
Presentation	White carriage, white horses, dark uniforms	Follows the customs of a military procession

Both are drawn by the same white Percheron horses. You can read more about them on the horses and carriages page.

How does a horse-drawn funeral procession work?

The day follows an order agreed in advance, so nothing has to be decided in the moment.

1. The route is set. The team maps the path between the funeral home, the church and the cemetery with your funeral director, choosing quiet roads and safe turns. A family home or another meaningful place can be included when the distance allows.
2. The carriage arrives early. The horses and driver are in place before the service ends, standing where guests will see them as they leave.
3. The casket is transferred. Pallbearers place the casket in the hearse carriage or on the caisson, with the funeral director guiding them.
4. The procession moves. The carriage leads at a walking pace. Family may follow on foot or in cars behind it.
5. The graveside. At the cemetery the casket is received, and the horses can stand quietly nearby during the committal if the family wishes.
6. A quiet departure. Once the family is ready, the carriage withdraws without ceremony.

For a long distance between the church and the cemetery, the carriage usually takes a shorter symbolic leg and the motor hearse covers the rest. The funeral carriage service guide walks through each step in more detail.

How much does a horse and carriage for a funeral cost?

There is no set fee. The quote depends on three things: the number of horses, how long the carriage and driver are needed, and the distance between the funeral home, the church and the cemetery. A short procession through the cemetery gates costs less than a route across town with the horses waiting through the committal.

Every quote is personal to the service. Many families ask their funeral director to make the request so they do not have to, and that is welcome. The pricing guide explains what goes into a quote, and the reservation page is the place to ask.

Where do you provide funeral carriages?

• Charlotte metro: Charlotte, Matthews, Pineville, Huntersville, Concord and Gastonia
• The Triangle: Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, Apex and Morrisville
• The Sandhills: Fayetteville, Southern Pines, Pinehurst and Aberdeen

Wider North Carolina and South Carolina are served by arrangement. The service areas page has the full list, and the team will confirm any location when you ask.

Are horse-drawn carriages allowed in a funeral procession?

Rules for horse-drawn vehicles differ from one city and one cemetery to the next, which is why the route is agreed in advance with the funeral director and the cemetery rather than settled on the day. Cemetery lanes, gates and the place where the horses wait are all checked before the procession is confirmed.

The horses are cared for on a funeral in the same way as on any other ride. The team watches the forecast in the days before the service and talks with the funeral director about timing. Light rain does not stop a procession, since the hearse carriage is enclosed. In lightning, ice or extreme heat the procession pauses until conditions are safe for the horses and the mourners, and the motor hearse completes the trip if it must.

How far ahead should a family arrange the carriage?

Two to four weeks is the ideal window, and funerals rarely allow it. Contact the team as soon as the date and the location are known. The schedule is checked right away, and shorter notice is handled wherever it can be.

Share the funeral home, the church or chapel, the cemetery and the time of the service. Say whether the family wants the hearse carriage or the caisson, whether the horses should remain for the graveside, and whether any honors or customs should shape the procession. A reservation becomes final once the approval email arrives. All purchases are final, as the no refund policy sets out, so confirm the details with the funeral home before booking.

Arranging a funeral carriage

There is no obligation in asking, and every question is answered plainly. When your family is ready, share the date and the details and the team will respond with care.

Frequently asked questions

What is a horse-drawn funeral carriage called?

The enclosed, glass-sided carriage that carries a casket is a horse-drawn hearse, or hearse carriage. The flat, open wagon used for full military honors is a caisson. Both are drawn by horses and driven by a uniformed driver.

How much does it cost to hire a horse and carriage for a funeral?

There is no set fee. The quote depends on the number of horses, how long the carriage and driver are needed, and the distance between the funeral home, the church and the cemetery. A funeral director can request the quote for the family.

How far ahead should a family arrange a funeral carriage?

Two to four weeks is the ideal window, and funerals rarely allow it, so contact the team as soon as the date and location are known. The schedule is checked right away, and a reservation is final once the approval email arrives.

Can the horses and carriage stay for the graveside service?

Yes. After the casket is received at the cemetery, the horses and carriage can stand quietly nearby during the committal. Say so when asking for the quote so the duration and the standing place are planned in advance.