Bruce Wright
Upon buying the Tally-Ho in 1964, John Olson hired his 16-year-old nephew, Bruce Wright, to help with odd jobs such as feeding and watering horses. Bruce’s charisma and charm soon saw him becoming a ticket salesman. This link shows Bruce reciting the jingle he used as a young lad to lure customers to the Tally-Ho: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/MxexyOZOJpM .
In 1980, Bruce and his (former) wife fully took over the Tally-Ho and incorporated it under the name Capital City Tally-Ho and Sightseeing Company (1980) Limited. This is still the company that we operate today.
Times Colonist newspaper articles from the early 1990s provide some interesting facts and insights into operations at that time:
- Tally-Ho owned 36 draft horses.
- Horses worked 70 to 80 days per year, on a 2-day on, 2-day off schedule, for six months of the year.
- Each team of horses would make 3 to 4 trips per day for a cumulative distance of up to 25 km.
- Horses were shod in polyurethane rubber shoes (with a steel core), costing $150 per set.
- In the winter, the Tally-Ho horses would be trucked to Ellensburg, Washington, USA, where they were turned out on over 100 acres.
Bruce brought a charm and charisma to the business that is simply impossible to duplicate. He hired anyone down on their luck and in need of a job; had nicknames for every staff member; and created a special Tally-Ho “language” that was developed for years based upon daily funny moments. He was always at the ready to tell hilarious stories and make the Tally-Ho one of the most fun places to work. His stories would attract customers, too, and he was able to out-sell anyone else that dared try!
Bruce was the Tally-Ho frontman for over 40 years. He remained an owner until 2009; and stayed on as the “Gold Star Salesman” until 2020, when COVID shuttered the business. He is now happily retired and will forever remain synonymous with the Tally-Ho (and one of our favorite people!).
