Sleigh images by Coralie Nairn
Following eight busy days of sleigh rides over the Christmas holidays, the Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs received a New Year donation of $3,000. orse Drawn Okanagan hosted their 3rd annual sleigh ride event at a new venue in Armstrong BC with resounding success. With 11 draft horses and 4 sleighs running simultaneously, the event was at capacity most days. 100% of the sponsorship money was donated back to the charity of choice. “I want to thank Rellish Transport Services and Bannister Honda for their generosity in supporting the event, and in turn, supporting the charity. And we could not have done it without our dedicated volunteers. The owner of the facility was incredibly helpful and generous too. For everyone to give their time at Christmas at our event - I am really grateful.” – Kelly MacIntosh, Event Coordinator. Guests came from all over the Okanagan, but some were visiting from around the world such as China, Australia, and Korea, and experienced snow and draft horses for the very first time. “We went from 1,700 guests in 2018 to 2,300 guests in 2019. That’s a huge increase and we are so thrilled with the turnout. It means that we are filling a need for family activities right at Christmas. I also think that a lot of people come simply to see the draft horses, and that’s why we do it in the first place; it’s all about the horses. Not everyone’s grandparents live on a farm anymore and we hope to connect younger generations to the past and remind them of the significant role horses have in our lives.” Ottercrest Farms was the perfect setting for the event. People could see where the horses are housed in the big beautiful barn, visit with the farm animals, and pet the draft horses. The large covered arena gave guests a space to keep warm and dry before 16 • FEBRuary 2020
SADDLEUP.CA
(Okanagan Boys and Girls Clubs) Back row: Jesie Harms, Kelly MacIntosh, Cheré Lene. Front row: children from the Friends Together Daycare, Boys and Girls Clubs – Vernon heading out on the sleighs. The backdrop was a winter wonderland of snow covered trees and hay fields. Organizers plan to bring back the sleigh ride event again next Christmas, but in the meantime they are planning events for the summer. You can find Horse Drawn Okanagan horses and teamsters giving wagon rides, horse-drawn tours, wedding carriage rides, and agricultural demonstrations throughout the region. For more information on upcoming events and activities with Horse Drawn Okanagan, contact Kelly MacIntosh at 250-540-7344, horsedrawnokanagan@gmail.com