In 2005, some of the brides at the Las Vegas weddings had difficulty thinking about romance. In fact, a number of those brides were thinking about horses. They were not, however, concerned about a bet that they or a loved one had placed on the horses. Instead the brides at those Las Vegas weddings had their minds on the wild horses in southern Nevada.

Wild horses had existed in a canyon south of Las Vegas for quite some time. For at least a portion of that time, however, the government had agreed to allow those wild horses freedom of movement. In 2005 however, that situation had begun to change. In 2005 the government had made a fateful decision. It was that decision that troubled some Las Vegas brides.

In 2005, the government planned to make some changes in regard to the freedom of movement given to the horses in the Red Rock Canyon Conservation Area. The government felt a need to thin the herd, and so it had agreed to the capture of some horses. Some of the brides at the Las Vegas weddings had become concerned about the possible options for treatment of the captured horses.

Even as the brides at the Las Vegas weddings enjoyed the excitement of the day, some of them also suffered from a touch of sadness. Some of them realized that a captured horse might not have a long and happy life. In fact, it was possible that some of the captured horses could be sent to a slaughterhouse.

The brides at the Las Vegas weddings did not want to hear about the slaughter of horses. Some of those brides tried to identify some other options for the treatment of the captured horses. As each of those brides observed the boat rides available in some of the casinos, one or more or them must have recalled an “option” used many decades ago.

Back at the time of the Old West, there were many wild horses roaming free in the territory that would become Nevada. At that time, most captured horses were trained to accept a rider. A few of the captured horses, however, learned how to pull a carriage.

If the visitors to Las Vegas were willing to pay for a boat ride in a casino, then they would certainly pay for a ride in a horse drawn carriage. At least a few of the captured horses could be trained to pull such a carriage. That horse drawn carriage could thus save some horses, even as it brought more money into the pockets of City officials in Las Vegas.

That idea brightened the thinking of some Las Vegas brides. That idea helped to remove the sadness that had threatened to destroy some Las Vegas weddings. That idea demonstrated how the residents of Las Vegas could exploit the City’s ties to past events.

Now that the government has heard more complaints about the planned slaughter of certain horses, the idea for using carriages pulled by horses might enjoy even larger support. Both city and state officials could finally realize what a great idea it is.

Maybe that idea will one day become a reality. Maybe the newly married couples from some Las Vegas weddings could some day be carried away from the chapel in a horse drawn carriage.