Horse and buggy NM man's new form of transportation

GABRIELA MUNOZ Hobbs News-Sun |

7/4/2008 - 7/4/08

HOBBS — Neal Heard has been spending his gasoline money on another type of fuel — horse feed.

The Hobbs resident has been riding to work on a red and black Amish-style buggy pulled by his horse, a Missouri fox trotter named Jasper.

"It was actually a hobby," Heard said. "But when the gas got to be ... up to $4 a gallon, I decided to find a different way to save some gasoline money."

Since Heard was spending money on feeding and taking care of the horse, he figured he might as well put the animal to good use.

Heard travels about three miles every morning to work at a drilling and pump service. Though his trip requires more time and preparation, riding the horse and buggy has cut down on his gas costs.

"I'm saving a few dollars a day because if I don't drive my truck, I'm not going back and forth everywhere," he said. "But it makes you really appreciate your car. You can go to town and be there in like 10 minutes."

Traveling with a horse and buggy, a typically short drive to work takes 30 minutes. As a result, he must wake up earlier, he said.

His boss, Alan Eades, has been supportive and accommodating, though his first question upon hearing Heards plan was, "Where are we going to keep him?

"We got to looking around the yard, and ... we fixed his pen inside here," Eades said.

When Heard arrives at work, he takes Jasper to the pen where the horse spends the day. Heard feeds him during his work day and then they head back home when his shift is over.

Heard not only wanted to save money on gasoline, but he also thought the commute would be good exercise for the horse.

"People who own a horse — they need to use it," agreed Eades.

"He's calmed down a lot," Heard said of Jasper. "He's learned quite a bit since we've been doing this."

Heard has added metal to the horse's shoes so that it will gain traction on the street and rubber for comfort.

When the weather is too hot, Heard cuts back on taking out the horse and buggy, Eades said.

"On days when it's been over 100 (degrees), he's been leaving him at home," Eades said. "He's brought him a couple of times but it nearly got too hot for him going home."

Heard said the alternative form of transportation "worked out pretty good."

"It's just a nice little hobby, and when the gas thing kicked in, Alan probably got tired of me complaining. ... I said I'm going to stick it to the man and I'm going to ride my little wagon," Heard said.

Though Heard gets some questionable looks from commuters on his way to work, people are mostly curious and even eager to jump on the buggy for a ride.

"A lot of people look at me kind of funny when they see me," he said with a laugh.

Even Heard's wife has questioned the horse and buggy.

"My wife thinks I've kind of flipped my lid because I'm enjoying my buggy and stuff," he said. "To me, it's pretty relaxing. I kind of enjoy it."