On approaching I eventually identified the thing on the back of the actual truck was one of those buggy things.
Look like horns when they are carrying them :D
I am from "horse country" so it was pretty normal to see them (and people riding horses in the streets).
so they don't dress up to ridiculousness like they seem to do over here?
Oh no! This is not Melbourne Cup kind of stuff. It is very, very ummm ... basic? :D