Wednesday Western- A Town Essential- Livery Stable

Livery Stables were necessary in towns and cities before the coming of motorized vehicles. With horses and wagons as the mode of transportation, there had to be a means for people visiting to stable their horses and store their buggies and wagons. Also people arriving by train or stage coach needed to rent horses, buggies and wagons to get about once they arrive. They were usually within walking distance of a hotel or station.

Locals would also board their animals for a fee that would get their stalls mucked out and the animal fed. For even more of a fee the animal would be exercised once a day.

In small towns the livery could have been attached to a boarding house or hotel. In a large city the livery could be several stories tall with an elevator to lift horses to the second floor.

Not only did these business supply a needed service they also were a gathering place for men and boys. Gambling and story-telling were past times that could be found at liveries.

While this type of establishment was needed, other businesses weren't happy to be situated near them due to the tang of manure and the rodents a building storing hay and feed attracted. 

These are some prices I borrowed from an exceptional post by Karen Witemeyer at Petticoats and Pistols. http://petticoatsandpistols.com/category/livery-stables/

Horse rental per day – $0.50
Horse and buggy rental – $1.00
Carriage and team – $2.00
Carriage and driver – $4.00
Buggy to depot – $1.00
Horse to pasture – $0.50
Feed – $0.25
Bucket of oats – $0.50
Stall rental – $1.50
Stall plus hay – $2.50
One month board on horse – $10.00
Currying horse – $0.10
Saddling horse – $0.25
Repairs on carriage – $0.50 to $1.50 or higher depending on extent of repair needed
Fee for lost horse blanket – $0.75 for regular blanket, $2.00 for double blanket