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EventsSleigh Day & Sleigh Rides, 13th annual Skyline Farm is hosting its 13th Annual Sleigh Day, in conjunction with the debut of its new exhibit, 'Winter Transportation: From Horse to Horseless.' Dress warmly and come to this double-header where horse-drawn vehicles are both displayed in the museum and driven outdoors. Enjoy an unforgettable adventure through an open field of snow! Your $8 admission fee (or $30/family) includes one sleigh ride given by J. L. Gray & Son of Monmouth and his handsome pair of Percheron horses. Free for Skyline Farm members (become a Skyline Farm member), competitors, and children ages 5 and under. If you’d like to feel what it was like to drive along the quiet snow in a horse-drawn sleigh, the only sound being the jingling of bells on the horse’s harness, hop on board for a sleigh ride through the field. It's the perfect opportunity to get out of the house and celebrate winter. At 1 p.m. horses and drivers, both in fur coats, demonstrate their skills in the outdoor arena. Spectators can imagine what life was like when snow meant sleigh parties and socializing as long as one had a warm muff and a one horse open sleigh. This sleigh driving demonstration is a virtual step back in time; a unique opportunity to get a firsthand glimpse of the glorious days of the horse-drawn transportation era. Gentle ponies will be available for the children to pat. Bring your snowshoes or cross-country skis for a 2 p.m. guided tour of Skyline’s beautiful trails. Hot food and drinks will be for sale inside the heated Visitor Center, starting at noon. If there’s a storm, Sleigh Day will be held on Sunday, Feb. 5. For more information, please call Pamela Ames, (207) 829-5708. NOTE TO DRIVERS with all types of sleighs and equine breeds,Skyline Farm sincerely invites you to come participate in its Sleigh Day, free of charge. Although no fancy turnout is required, we’re asking drivers who are able to be dressed in the style of ‘Currier & Ives’ from this bygone era. Please come early to get parked, hitched, and have time to warm up in the outdoor arena before 1 p.m. when you will demonstrate your skills in the outdoor arena. For more information, please call Lynn Young, (207) 829-5838, or Kristi Wright, (207) 829-2167. 'Winter Transportation: From Horse to Horseless' Museum Exhibit Come explore the evolution of horse drawn transportation. The exhibit will start with the earliest form of American horse transportation called a Travois, once used by Native Americans to carry cargo. This system evolved into simple wood platforms on runners called a sledge or pung and finally into more elaborate sleighs we know today. We will display the romantic and not so romantic side of the sleighing scene throughout the exhibit time period of 1750 to 1906. Let’s not forget that muddy or snow-less roads were not uncommon along the coast. Easier to turn two wheeled carts would be used during the earliest of times. These carts evolved into much larger four wheel enclosed vehicles to protect passengers and cargo from the elements. A sampling of wheeled vehicles to be displayed will include a 1780's Pleasure Wagon, Fiddler Gig, Doctors Gig, Van Tassel, Maine State Prison made Concord Buggy, Surrey, Bronson, Extension Top Phaeton, and a Rockaway. The exhibit’s title mentions horseless transportation. We will have on display a rare 1906 ‘Black Motor Buggy’ on loan from Owls Head Transportation Museum. The vehicle looks very similar to a ‘later’ horse drawn Concord Buggy. The ‘Black’ vehicle along with other motorized vehicles of its time period was the beginning of the end of the horse drawn era. Please note a special sub-exhibit ‘Canadian Sleighs’, on loan from Willowbrook Museum. Free admission; donations are gratefully accepted. For more information, please call Greg Cuffey, (207) 239-5782 Winter Outdoor Fun! Starting off in 2012, Skyline Farm is excited to announce that the trails will be groomed this winter. Grooming will begin as soon as we get enough snow. When snow is deep enough, cross country ski tracks will be set, in addition to packing and smoothing the trail. Skyline Farm trails get a wide variety of uses. In order to take best advantage of the grooming and improve the experience for everyone, please observe any signs about using the trails. For example, we may ask that those walking or snowshoeing use one side of the trail while skiers use the other side. We also plan a separate groomed field loop for dog walkers. This will be our first year grooming the trails, so we will be experimenting a bit. We welcome your feedback. Head to Skyline Farm for some outdoor fun and exercise while inhaling crisp winter air. Snowy, gently-rolling hills await outdoor sledding enthusiasts. For a trail map, please click here. The trails depicted in the field are not applicable to this time of year, but the ones shown in the woods will help you stay on course. For more information, please call Pamela Ames, (207) 829-5708. |