When Massachusetts composer James Lord Pierpont wrote “Jingle Bells,” in 1857, he intended the song to celebrate Thanksgiving. The catchy tune about dashing through the snow is now undoubtedly associated with the Christmas season.

Leading up to the holiday — and beyond — you'll find numerous local opportunities to be pulled o’er the fields (and streets) in horse-drawn sleighs and wagons. With any luck, your family will be laughing all the way. 

• Ponies from the Green Mountain Miniature Horse Club pull passengers around the top block of Church Street in Burlington this Saturday and next. Click for info.

• At Billings Farm and Museum in Woodstock, horse-drawn sleigh rides are part of the Christmas at the Farm celebration throughout December, as well as Wassail Weekend on the Farm this weekend. Click here and here for info.
• If Old Man Winter cooperates, Shelburne Farms will offer scenic sleigh rides on a first-come, first-served basis this weekend and during the week of Christmas. Click here for info.

• Families pile in for festive, 15-minute horse-drawn wagon trips around downtown Montpelier this Saturday and next courtesy of Black Horse Farm. Click here for info.

• On the Sundays before and after Christmas, holiday revelers journey through Hard’ack Recreation Area in St. Albans by horse-drawn sleigh, or wagon if the snow doesn’t fly. Click here for info.