Snowshoe Mountain Resort

Speaker 1:           Well, how could I come to Snowshoe Mountain without coming to Autumn Breeze Stables. I want you all to meet Skippy. How are ya buddy?

Skippy:                 I’m wonderful. It’s a great day to be here.

Speaker 1:           Who have we got over our shoulders?

Skippy:                 We’ve got Mister Apollo and Mister Jack.

Speaker 1:           Okay. Tell us a little bit about the horses that you’ve got here, specifically to do the sleigh riding.

Skippy:                 Well, for sleigh rides and buggy rides, we’ve got some draft horses, like Mister Jack here.

Speaker 1:           Yeah.

Skippy:                 He’s our Suffolk Punch. We have a Mister Flash inside, who’s like basically a [Percheron 00:00:30] Morgan Cross, and they’re pretty well trained to take people out on buggies and sleighs.

Speaker 1:           And they’re a much smaller horse, but much more solid. Tell us the history behind them.

Skippy:                 Well the Suffolk Punch originated in England and it’s one of the oldest breed of horses; goes back to like in the 1700’s.

Speaker 1:           Really?

Skippy:                 Worked the hard clay soils of East Anglia and thrived up and through World War II and we got into the breeding of them when they became a rare breed and about 1,200 left in the world. About 150 left in England.

Speaker 1:           1,200 left in the world, totally, do you think?

Skippy:                 Correct.

Speaker 1:           Wow. That’s pretty amazing. Okay. Why are they so great for this type of work?

Skippy:                 They’re low to the ground, they get really healthy coats for the wintertime.

Speaker 1:           A bit like me.

Skippy:                 Yeah.

Speaker 1:           Low to the ground and a healthy coat.

Skippy:                 That’s it. And they’re good workers. They have good temperament and they’re just easy going animals and big feet which helps with traction up in this part of the country.

Speaker 1:           Yes. I can feel that. Whatcha doin’ over there? And they’re very friendly.

Skippy:                 Yes. They’re very social. They’re just not horses. They’re our family.

Speaker 1:           I love that you say that and everyone watching at home, and from Kentucky, say the same thing about their horses as well.

Well, let’s talk a little bit about the sleigh rides. How does it all start? How do you get it all involved? How long does it go for?

Skippy:                 Generally we’ll be out 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the pace of the horse and a lot people will just come here, believe it or not, just to do a sleigh, ’cause it’s on a bucket list.

Speaker 1:           Oh.

Skippy:                 So far this year, I’ve had a lady for her 88th birthday, 82nd birthday, second anniversary for a married couple, and a 47th anniversary.

Speaker 1:           What do you love about it? Sittin’ up the front…

Skippy:                 The bells jingling and people, I mean we’ll have people laughin’, we’ll have people cryin’ and we’ve had proposals, we’ve had the whole nine yards in a sleigh. I’ve been caught off guard a few times when I hear, “Will you marry me,” thing without any prior warning. Some I get warned on.

Speaker 1:           Some of them they tell you that’s gonna happen.

Skippy:                 Yeah. Some do, but there’s also the ones that totally doesn’t say a word until they get in the sleigh and do it.

Speaker 1:           Well, Skippy, I think you’re amazing. I love that you have these breed of horses up here. I’m looking forward to coming back and seeing you again. Appreciate it.

Skippy:                 My pleasure.