Mike Fuchs guides his team of horses southbound on Central Avenue in historic downtown Faribault late Saturday afternoon.
BELLS JINGLED AS HORSES clopped along Faribault’s Central Avenue late Saturday afternoon pulling Santa’s Wagon, although Santa was missing.
Traffic jammed and shoppers paused to watch.
And occasionally along the route, Mike Fuchs reined his team to a halt for exiting and boarding passengers.
The horses trod past aged buildings and the recently-refurbished Security Bank Building clock.
Time slowed for drivers trailing Santa’s Wagon. But no horns honked.
For a few hours on a December Saturday afternoon, time flashed back to yesteryear, to days when horse power truly meant horse power.
It is good to slow down, to travel at the pace of a horse’s stride, to listen to the repeat rhythm of hooves upon pavement, to hear sleigh bells ring.
There is time in the haste of life, in the crazy busyness of the Christmas season, for a horse-drawn wagon ride.
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Check back for more weekend holiday stories in and around Faribault, including a precious portrait you won’t want to miss tomorrow.
© Copyright 2015 Audrey Kletscher Helbling
Minnesota Prairie Roots 
Just think about how fun it would be to give rides on a horse drawn wagon. What a lucky guy!
Mike does this a lot in and around Faribault.
This was a nice surprise to see when we arrived to peruse the shops.
So you did make it to Faribault. I look forward to your photos.
We didn’t take any photos. We were in 100% shopping mode.
Yeah, sometimes you just have to set the camera aside.
Nothing better than a horse drawn carriage to set the Spirit of the Season! We had a few carriages available here on Friday night – a little expensive to ride though – so just admired the horses and carriages all decked out and lighted. There was a bike ride going on too with all the bikes decked out in lights. Very Festive this past weekend! Happy Week – Enjoy 🙂
Bikes decked out in lights sounds like a really delightful visual. Horse-drawn wagon rides here were free.
We did not make it to the Boat Light Festival Parade (boats get decked out and parade on the water) on Saturday night – maybe next year. All about Lights this past weekend!
What fun a lighted boat parade would be also.
Did you have a ride?
No. I got there near the end of the rides and was more interested in photographing than riding.
That looks like so much fun!
It was a joy for the passengers and those of us watching.
Being around animals is such a calming thing and those horses are glorious!
I agree on the calming and the horses.
Love the horses, Love the greenery, love the smell of fresh pine, love the festive atmosphere. but what I really love is the smell of fresh baking and the cold, clean snap of the fresh air!
All things to love, for sure.
Oh that is so beautiful. It is the perfect thing to get anyone in the mood for Christmas.
Yes, the horse-drawn wagon definitely added a holiday flair to downtown Faribault on Saturday.
I don’t suppose you know what breed of horses these are? They’re beautiful and so regal! I once rode in one of the Budweiser wagons, pulled by a team of eight horses. Did I ever feel like a queen that day!! Back in the 80’s when banks still had money to blow on gala events, the institution I worked for rented a team out of St. Louis for a 4th of July parade in Seward, Nebraska. I don’t think I’ll ever forget the roar of the crowd as those horses took the corner coming onto main street. I was all goose bumps!! 😀
My husband and I were discussing exactly that question about the horses. I will need to ask Mike next time I see him.
What a fun opportunity for you to ride in the Budweiser wagon. That must have been quite fun.