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STOCKTON: Over the river, through the woods

Stockton business will take you on horse-drawn carriage ride

By John Tredrea, Special Writer
Say the words "New Jersey," and many people from all over the United States — from all over the world, in fact — visualize the environs of the New Jersey Turnpike from which you can see the New York City skyline.
Around here, we know there’s a lot more to see in our state than that. One great way to see some of the most beautiful countryside New Jersey has to offer is based in Stockton.
With Stockton Carriage Tours, you can enjoy a horse-drawn ride through scenic local countryside. Its comfortable estate carriages seat up to 12 people.
The business was started 12 years ago by Mary Tolmie. She and her husband, Charles Mapravnik, run it together now.
"We drive the carriages ourselves," Ms. Tolmie said. "We take turns driving, and whoever is not the driver is the footman, whose job is to watch the traffic so that we can slow down or stop the carriage when needed and help with the loading and unloading of the carriage."
Ms. Tolmie moved to the state, with horses, 20 years ago.
"After I’d been here eight years, I started the carriage business so the horses could help earn their hay and earn their keep," she said.
State law permits the carriages to be on the roads.
"We have all the flashers, blinkers and lights the state requires us to have," Ms. Tolmie said. "We ride quiet roads. Our favorite is Lower Creek Road in Delaware Township, which goes through the last historic covered bridge in New Jersey."
These carriages go 12 months a year.
"We work year-round," Ms. Tolmie said. "The leaves are lovely in the fall. The snow scenes are lovely in the winter when we put jingle bells on the carriage."
She said the most frequent pickup point for passengers is Prallsville Mills in Stockton.
"We also pick up people at the Stockton Inn," she said. "They can have dinner before or after the ride if they like."
She added she and her husband "have nearly 75 combined years of horse experience between us."
Mr. Mapravnik has been a farrier for more than 30 years and has driven his farm teams, first as a hobby, then as a profession for many of those years. Ms. Tolmie started riding at age 5 and has competed the quarterhorse circuit.
"We pride ourselves on being perpetual students," she said. "We believe there is something to learn from every kind of horse, horse person and horse discipline. After 12 years in this business, we still enjoy it. As we ride through our area, we talk to our customers about is history."