My first Family Day Holiday in Ontario was special. The romance of a horse-drawn sleigh ride seemed the perfect activity for a sunny winter day. We didn't let the frigid Mid-February temperatures stop us from getting outdoors for some family fun!
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| Cuddle Time |
South-Western Ontario seems to have a romantic "step back through time" feel, and a horse-drawn sleigh ride seemed perfect for this frigid and snowy Family Day! Our group met at Riverbend Acres; a farm situated South of Kitchener (between Washington and Bright) not too far from our farmhouse in Drumbo. Immediately the beautiful Belgian Draft Horses that reside at Riverbend Acres were curious to meet us and came around the corral to say hello to everyone. These horses are magnificent; big and blonde with loving brown eyes. They enjoyed a little cuddle!
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| Our Sweet Ride |
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| Keeping Toasty Warm |
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| Ride Through The Maple Grove |
Our sleigh ride lasted for about an hour; touring Riverbend's 100-acre farm. We went down along the banks of the Nith river in the sunshine and of course, singing at least one chorus of Jingle Bells! Then the horses really got going to a trot, and I was amazed at how fast they could go... yet so smooth. It felt like we were floating above the snow. Libby guided the horses through a thick stand of Maple trees, and the kids looked for bird nests, woodpecker holes, and even a few squirrel habitats were sighted. It reminded me that soon, this forest of Maples will be full of buckets when the weather starts warming up, and the sap starts to run in March. Mmmmm...syrupy goodness!
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| Snow Angel Time |
Libby stopped the horses in a field behind Riverbend Acres so that we could jump out of the wagon and make angels in the snow to add to her guests' collection. The wind must have blown the snow into a big drift here because it was so soft and deep. One thing I miss about the West Coast is the heavy wet snow; now that is snow you can make snowballs with! We couldn't really have a snowball fight. It turned out to be more of a snow-spray effect, like how you would splash water at someone. Apparently, I need to hone this skill because if the wind is not in your favour, the snow flies right back in your face. 😩
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| Winter Time Fun! |
The horses soon made their way back to barns, and we were ready to gather around a roaring fire for some delicious hot apple cider that Granny brought from Wellesley. But first, we had to check out the sheep and goats in the barn. The kids had fun feeding the lambs that had just been born at the beginning of February. I slipped outside to give the horses a few extra special treats; some big fat juicy carrots! With Libby's permission of course...
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| The "Olde Piggery" At Riverbend Acres |
We reserved the "Olde Piggery", a beautiful rustic stone outbuilding at Riverbend for an hour after our sleigh ride so we could warm up by the wood stove and have a light meal together. We had plugged in our crock pots to warm while we were out on our sleigh rides. Hot BBQ pulled pork on french bread buns was on the menu, washed down with some famous Wellesley apple cider definitely hit the spot! The adults warmed up by the fire for a while, and the kids played ping pong and darts. A bit of Apple Schnapps sitting by the wood stove was a perfect way to end to the Family Day afternoon.
To book a wagon or sleigh ride with Libby at Riverbend Acres call 1-519-504-8340 or go to riverbendacres.com Connect with Riverbend Acres on Facebook or Instagram to see where they will appear next in the community!
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