Downtown Chillicothe — Periodic carriage rides made available by Ivy’s at Paint and Water streets will be ending this winter. The owner of the livery service will be retiring at the end of the year, but there will be one or two more weekends of rides available…unless you want to buy some horses and their gear!
On the last day of the Holiday Open House on Sunday, November 23rd, 2025, I had to go over and see Ray and Bill the black Percheron horses…and heard that the livery service was ending.
Owner Diane Marshall said she started “OT’s Homestead” carriage service 26 years ago with her husband, but she lost him in October last year and has decided to to retire and sell the service.
Marshall said she has not not posted the sale, but is open to offers. She said they will be running riddes through the end of the year…if she still has the horses, since they will be offered for sale first.
She cautioned that it’s a demanding career – there is much prep-work and post-work for rides, plus the animals need daily care. So, it’s not just a job, it’s a passionate profession. She says there are not many horse-drawn services around.
But Ivy’s asked her to be back at Paint and Water next weekend after Thanksgiving: Black Friday, Small Business Saturday…and the day before Cyber Monday. Marshall’s service may also be back for the the weekend before Christmas. She said Ivy’s will post details on their Facebook page.
Marshall said she will be there again “with bells on.” Hear her in her own words below.
“OT’s Homestead – Double D Hitch” has a Facebook page and website. Based in Cedarville, they have the four well-bred Percherons to pull three “fancier carriages” and four “fun wagons and mini horse & cart.”
Find Ivy’s Home & Garden at 105 North Paint Street in downtown Chillicothe, and on Facebook and Instagram.
