Sleigh bells ring, are you going?
Experience the magic of a horse-drawn sleigh ride in a winter wonderland – the peaceful Spallumcheen countryside! With horses and hot cocoa, sleigh bells and carolling around the fire, it’s a perfect Christmas activity for the whole family.
Horse Drawn Okanagan invites guests to take part in its seventh annual sleigh ride event, Dec. 20 to 24, and Dec. 26 to 29, in Spallumcheen, north of Vernon. Experience the power of the Clydesdales, Percherons and Belgians, gliding across the snow-covered fields.
Guests can also visit with the resident ponies, as well as the friendly sheep and adorable donkey named Willow. Play some old-fashioned games, and take lots of photos with family and friends in the beautifully decorated hay shed. New this year are talented local musicians performing live, plus additional displays of horse-drawn equipment.
“We are excited to have musicians join us this year. We love playing all the classic songs but there is something really special about live music,” says event organizer and teamster Kelly MacIntosh. “We have an amazing piano player and a very talented guitar player joining us. After a lovely sleigh ride, it’s nice to spend some time in our venue enjoying music with loved ones.”
Hot chocolate and cookies are complementary and served from a vintage horse trailer bar. Sleigh rides are approximately 20 to 25 minutes long, and the sleighs can seat a maximum of 14 people. The whole experience will take approximately an hour, and afternoon and evening times are available.
“We’ll also have a couple of new displays of antique horse-drawn equipment in the hay field during the rides,” MacIntosh says. “It’s important to us to provide a bit of information on the historical importance of draft horses, such as hauling freight, haying, logging or ice harvesting. It’s part of our heritage.”
Tickets must be purchased in advance through Ticketseller.ca or by calling
Special thanks to Okanagan Restoration Services; Oak Valley Homes; Rusty Spur, Farm, Feed and Pet; Armstrong Regional Cooperative; and Fox Springs Farms, for the sponsorship support ensuring a donation is made to the Vernon Search and Rescue as the Charity of Choice for this year’s sleigh ride event by Horse Drawn Okanagan.
For more information contact MacIntosh at
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