When a family decides they want a horse-drawn carriage for a funeral, they usually know what they want — a more meaningful, more beautiful, more honest farewell for someone they love. What they often don't know is what questions to ask, what options are available, or how the logistics actually work.
This guide is our attempt to answer all of that honestly and completely. We've been doing this for over ten years across Texas, and these are the things we wish every family knew before they called us — and the things we always make sure to cover when they do.
What Vehicles Are Available?
Most families know about the white horse-drawn hearse because it's the most visible and the most photographed. But it's far from the only option — and knowing what else is available can open up possibilities families hadn't considered.
The White Hearse is our signature vehicle — elegant, timeless, and stunning in photographs. It's the right choice for most traditional funeral services and works beautifully at any cemetery setting.
The Black Caisson is the formal military-style vehicle — an open, traditional design historically associated with veterans and military services, but available to any family. It carries a different energy than the white hearse: more solemn, more austere, and deeply powerful. For a veteran's funeral it communicates something specific, but for any family who wants that gravity and formality, the caisson is available regardless of military connection.
The Family Carriage is a separate carriage that can follow the hearse, allowing family members to be part of the procession itself rather than following in vehicles. For families who want to be physically present in the procession — moving at the same pace as the horses, part of the tribute rather than observers of it — the family carriage makes that possible.
These vehicles can also be combined. A caisson carrying the casket followed by a family carriage is a powerful and moving arrangement. Don't assume the standard package is your only option — it rarely is.
Can a Family Member Ride the Hearse?
Yes — and this is one of the most meaningful options available, and one of the least known.
One family member may ride on the hearse itself for what we call the last mile. We have had mothers ride with their children, wives with their husbands, grandchildren with their grandparents. In Jourdanton, a grandson rode the hearse at his grandfather's funeral while his father rode the horse that led the riderless horse alongside. It was one of the most powerful things we have ever been part of.
If this matters to your family — if there is someone who needs to be physically present with their loved one for that final journey — ask for it. It is available.
What Is a Riderless Horse and Who Can Have One?
The riderless horse — boots reversed in the stirrups, saddle empty — is one of the oldest symbols in funeral tradition. It represents someone who will ride no more. While it is most commonly associated with military funerals, any family can request a riderless horse for any loved one. It is not limited to veterans.
We have provided riderless horse services for veterans, for ranchers and horsemen, and for anyone whose family felt the empty saddle was the most honest thing they could offer. In Falfurrias, the riderless "horse" was Sister Sarah — a donkey who belonged to a family member and walked the procession with quiet dignity, honoring the cowboy she had known. We welcomed her without hesitation.
Family animals are welcome to participate in the procession. If your loved one had an animal that mattered to them and the family wants that animal present, we are open to it — and some of our most memorable services have included a family's own horse, a donkey, or another beloved animal walking alongside. That said, our team handles only our own horses. The family's animals are entirely the family's responsibility — for handling, behavior, and safety. We simply share the road with them and honor their presence.
What Customizations Are Possible?
More than most families realize. Customization is not an add-on — it is often the thing that transforms a procession from something beautiful into something that could only ever belong to the person being honored.
Custom colored plumes can be ordered in virtually any color to coordinate with your service's palette, floral arrangements, or the colors that mattered to your loved one. We have done tan plumes for a family's warm color scheme, traditional white, and everything in between. Custom plumes require a minimum of two weeks advance notice — more is always better, to allow for shipping delays. This is one of the reasons early planning matters.
Flag draping and carriage decorations are welcome and encouraged. We have had military and patriotic families place the American flag on the carriage, a Puerto Rican family place their flag alongside, and fans incorporate their loved one's team colors into the service. Whatever is meaningful to your family, we will make it happen — and the best way to ensure your vision is met exactly is to provide the decorations yourself. Most families give them to the funeral director, who passes them to us while we are setting up. That way there is no guesswork about the right shade of pink for the flowers, how large the flag should be, or exactly how something should be arranged. Your vision, your materials, your way. We handle the rest.
A team of horses rather than a single horse is available with at least one week's advance notice. Our standard is one white Percheron draft horse — a magnificent animal, calm and powerful. A team of two creates a more formal and commanding presence, and requires a different harness and carriage setup that we need time to prepare. It is worth asking about early if this matters to you.
Custom plumes: minimum 2 weeks notice, more preferred. Team of two horses: minimum 1 week notice. Flag draping and carriage decorations: can often be accommodated with shorter notice. When in doubt, ask as early as possible — we would always rather have the conversation early than disappoint a family because there wasn't enough time.
How Far in Advance Should We Book?
As early as possible — and earlier than most families think to call.
Some families reach out months in advance when they know what their loved one wants. Pre-planning families and individuals can note their desire for a horse-drawn procession in their funeral planning packet, so that when the time comes the funeral home already knows and can contact us immediately.
Funeral homes sometimes call us 48 hours before a service. We always do our best to accommodate everyone when we are available — but availability is not guaranteed on short notice, especially during busy periods. The earlier you contact us, the more we can do for you.
If you are not sure yet whether you want a horse-drawn carriage but think you might — call us anyway. We are happy to answer questions, hold a tentative date, and give you the information you need to make the decision without any pressure.
How Does the Coordination Work?
We prefer to work directly with the funeral home or funeral director, and we encourage families to make that introduction. Here is why: a funeral director is a professional who understands logistics, timelines, and the language of funeral planning. Working through them takes the responsibility of coordination entirely off the family's plate — which is exactly where it belongs on one of the hardest days of their lives.
That said, we are happy to work directly with families who prefer to coordinate themselves. Some families are planners and want to be hands-on. We will work with whoever is best positioned to make the day go smoothly.
"The best funeral services we have been part of are the ones where the funeral director and our team are working from the same page — and the family is free to simply be present."
How Far Do You Travel?
We travel statewide. Our horse and carriage are transported on a trailer, so distance from San Antonio is not a barrier — we have served families in Houston, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, the Hill Country, South Texas, and communities across the state. If you are in Texas, we can come to you.
The two-mile limit applies to the horse-drawn portion of the procession itself. Once we arrive at the cemetery or the designated meeting point, the horse-drawn procession covers up to two miles and does not travel on busy roads or highways. In most cases we meet at the cemetery entrance, transfer the casket from the motor hearse to our horse-drawn hearse, and lead the procession to the gravesite from there. Contact us with your specific location and we will talk through the logistics.
What About Weather?
Texas weather is unpredictable, and families sometimes worry about what happens if conditions change before the service. Our commitment is simple: if we can get there safely, we will be there. We have operated in cold, rain, and difficult conditions because we understand that a funeral cannot be rescheduled lightly, and that families are counting on us.
Only weather that makes it genuinely unsafe to operate — for our horses, our team, or the people in the procession — would cause us to cancel or reschedule. In over ten years of providing funeral services across Texas, that has happened extremely rarely. Families can count on us to show up.
Can We Have a Photographer or Videographer?
Absolutely, and we encourage it. A horse-drawn funeral procession is one of the most visually powerful things that will happen on that day, and families who document it consistently say they are grateful they did. The photographs and video become part of how the family remembers the farewell — and they are worth having.
Some families hire a professional photographer or videographer. Others ask a trusted friend or family member to capture it on their phone. Either way, there is no restriction on photography or video during the procession. If you are hiring someone, let them know the route and timing in advance so they can position themselves well.
What About Religious or Cultural Customs?
We adapt to your tradition, not the other way around. We have provided processions for Catholic funerals, military services, jazz funerals, cowboy farewells, and everything in between. We have carried a casket to a crematorium rather than a gravesite for a family whose faith called for cremation with a procession — walking the entire way while the family followed behind.
If your faith, culture, or family tradition has specific requirements for the procession, tell us. We have almost certainly encountered something similar before, and if we haven't, we will ask the right questions and do the research to make it right.
How Much Does It Cost?
Pricing depends on the service — the vehicle, any add-ons, travel logistics, and what you are envisioning for the day. We do not publish a standard rate because every service is different, and we believe every family deserves a conversation rather than a price list.
Contact us directly or ask your funeral director to reach out on your behalf. We will give you a clear, honest quote based on exactly what you need — with no pressure and no obligation.
Texas Funeral Carriage serves families and funeral homes across San Antonio, Houston, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, and all of Texas. We are happy to answer any question not covered here — call us at (210) 646-4102 or send us a message and we will get back to you promptly.