Sleigh bells ring......

[N96337]

The local newspaper had contacted us about doing a feature article on our carriage business and sleigh rides, so a couple weeks ago, they sent a reporter and photographer up to see us. They had asked if we had anyone booked while they were going to be there, but we didn't. As we were harnessing, one of my oldest friends' daughters drove up with her 4 kids, to ask about a ride for some friends of hers that were headed to Bolivia to do missionary work... talk about timing! The kids were totally thrilled to get a sleigh ride, and the photographer and reporter were tickled to have them in the pictures! All in all, everyone had a great time!








This little guy overdosed in fun!



It was 0 when we got up in the morning, but warmed up to about 20, and with the sunshine, felt really nice outside all day! As soon as the sun went down, it really got cold quick... and was -4 the next morning again.

Today, the article ran in the local paper, and they did a wonderful job on it!! Our phone has been ringing all day long! Their pictures that they included were huge and wonderful...the "online" edition doesn't do it justice, but here's the link....

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/local_montana/article_78e3bf7a-1158-11e0-bb15-001cc4c03286.html

Just thought some of you may enjoy seeing what we do for fun out here.
John

[jim cooper]

Re: Sleigh bells ring......

Wow! Great! Jc

[guns68]

Re: Sleigh bells ring......

Very nice! Looks like a great time.

[cvavon]

Re: Sleigh bells ring......

John

You sure make an old teamster miss the horses the clydes look grate thanks for the photos Chuck

[N96337]

Re: Sleigh bells ring......

Thanks everyone! My wife's had those two horses for almost 18 years now. (almost 3 times as long as she's had ME!) They're our "seniors" but still going strong! The phone's been ringing pretty steady since the article hit the paper.
John

[Craig]

Re: Sleigh bells ring......

Great pictures!!

Brings back many memories of my Dad and the team of Belgians he had.

Having horses as a hobby can be hard to beat.

The sleigh looks pretty unique. What is its history?

Thanks for posting and Happy New Year!!

Craig

[N96337]

Re: Sleigh bells ring......

Craig,
The sleigh was made in Canada probably 5-10 years ago. We found it last year, at a place called oxbow trading company, in OR. ( www.oxbowtradeco.com ) When we bought it, it was all red, with the green seats.....every kid we passed on the way home, mouthed the words, "Santa Clause" to us through the window.....so we knew it had to change! I'd left it at a mechanic friend's place for a couple weeks before we took it home, and he had all the neighborhood kids believing he was Santa's mechanic! When we got it home, we took it in my paint booth and got to work. A couple weeks later it came out looking the way it does now.
We had wanted the vis-a-vis (face to face) seating for sleigh rides and it's a very popular one here. We've got a big "feed sled" that we use for large groups, but almost everyone wants the vis-a-vis. We have a hangar full of old wagons and carriages, including 2 late 1800's Studebaker wagons, and are expanding the "collection" all the time.
You can check out our website.. www.hansonscarriage.com and see pics of the rest.
John

[Forrest Barber]

Re: Sleigh bells ring......

I had a sleigh in the old barn across the road we never used it but the former owner Mr. Fremont Haas used it a lot , single horse. Then we had the buggy rides here at the airport many moons ago Mr. John Brunt ahd that outfit ; what a smooth ride around the airport. I think we need to do that again.