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Ray Smith has driven a horse and carriage around the streets of York for 33 years which, is a long time to do something he never considered doing: “I drove a taxi for years and then one day I was sat on the taxi rank in St Sampson Square and this chap with a horse and a little flat cart came past and it triggered something in me I can’t explain.

“At that time it was the beginnings of tourism really taking off in York, so that’s when I decided to wear two hats, one as a taxi driver and one doing this job.

“I bought this carriage from a retired butcher. When my wife saw it as it was delivered out of the back of a horse box the first thing she said was ‘b***dy fire-wood on wheels!”

Parking for one!

To do Ray’s job there are several requirements. A natural affinity with animals and people are two of them and Ray has an abundance of both. He clearly loves Rio and is a most warm, humorous and friendly host.

But there’s a third job requirement. To show tourists one of England’s most ancient cities you might expect Ray to posses a thorough knowledge of history.

Suprisingly Ray reveals, “I was bottom of the class at history, but it just comes. I’ve learnt as much from visitors as anything else really, because they spend their time reading about the place.”

Ray’s working partner is his horse Rio, bred by Ray for carriage duty from a Clydesdale cross mare and an Argentinean Hackney stallion. “Her temperament for this job is lovely,” says Ray, "I've seen her from foal to fruition and fortunately she's turned out perfect. As long as she’s fed well and looked after."

Mind the gap!

Ray’s seen a lot of changes in his 33 years behind the reins. “One of the best,” he says, “was pedestrianisation, that’s made life a lot easier.” But he still has to negotiate a variety of hazards, including cyclists heading towards him the wrong way up a one way street, day dreaming shoppers wandering in front of Rio and, by York Minster, bollards which he has to squeeze the horse and cart through, with only inches to spare either side.

It’s a pleasant experience leisurely rolling along the streets of York: the rhythmic clip-clopping of Rio’s hooves, the fresh air, the gradual acquisition of historical facts and, on this particular day, blue skies and sunshine. I suggest to Ray it might be as much for the ride as for the knowledge that people climb aboard.

A family ride

“It’s more about the experience I think,” says Ray, “I rabbit on for about 20 minutes and I’m sure half of it bounces off the top of their heads. The Japanese are interested in what you’re saying, but most people just relax and enjoy the ride.”

Ray claims to be poor at history, but he does have a few favourite historical facts up his sleeve for his passengers. “The nightly lighting of the belfry lantern, in All Saints' Church on Pavement, in remembrance of the Second World War.

"The 18th century ice house, below the city walls, by St Maurice's Road, so many people have never noticed that. It looks like a brick igloo and was used for storing ice blocks cut when the river froze."

Rio gets a rub down

Pushed for a favourite Ray says, “Whip-ma-whop-ma-gate always creates a bit of a chuckle. There are a few different translations, but the one I understand to be true is that it’s a collection of old English words exclaiming ‘what a short street!’ Then there’s the other one about whipping drunken wives, I don’t know about that…might be a good idea.”

Ray is recently back in the saddle after undergoing an operation to replace his knee so he could continue his daily rides. I ask if he’s ever thought about retirement. “Yes I have,” he says. “when one of us, the horse or me, is no longer fit. If the horse stays fit and I stay fit, I’ll just carry on carrying on.”