There’s something undecidedly romantic about Connecticut winters. With them often comes the following refrain, “Dashing through the snow, in a one-horse open sleigh…” As winter romance goes, there’s nothing more swoon-worthy than, yes, a sleigh ride through the snow. Making this very kind of magic happen is John Allegra of East Haddam’s Allegra Farm, which offers horse-drawn carriage and sleigh rides.
Arrive at Allegra Farm to be greeted by a flurry of barn dogs. The leader of the pack is Pete, a fluffy gray fellow that’s smaller than the rest, but definitely in charge. He’ll happily lead the way to meet some of the 43 horses, many of them rescues, that reside on the property, including Clydesdales, Quarter Horses, Percherons, Friesians, Thoroughbreds, Norwegian Fjords and Halflingers breeds.
Many of these horses are also celebrities as Allegra Farm is a go-to for film and television companies with projects featuring horse and carriages. If Allegra looks familiar, he’s currently the carriage driver for the character George Russell on the Max series “The Gilded Age.”
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“We’ve had as many as 27 carriages hooked at one time for that show,” Allegra said.
He can also be seen driving Hugh Jackman’s carriage in the “The Greatest Showman” and in scenes from "Little Women." So those horses pulling the sleigh or carriage during rides on the farm likely have claims to fame, as well. Their everyday jobs of providing carriage rides train them perfectly for stints in front of the camera.
Allegra Farm began in 1973 when Allegra bought a farm fresh out of the Army. Pretty soon, a family friend who was moving asked if he’d consider taking their horse. Suddenly, Allegra found himself collecting not only horses, but antique carriages.
“I found myself drawn to the craftsmanship, elegance and beauty of carriages from the golden years of the horse-drawn era, which ranged from about 1840 to 1905.” Word spread fast about his penchant, and calls started pouring in whenever a carriage needed a home.
"From a one-horse buggy to coaches that pull by four horses, we have everything you can imagine,” he said. Allegra’s antique carriage collection is extensive, with most lovingly restored on the farm.
In 1978 Allegra Farm moved to the East Haddam property where he's currently located. The year would become known for its series of blizzards, including a storm that dropped 30 inches of snow on Feb. 6, 1978. A ray of sunshine during the storm was a stallion named Mack. “That horse did everything you can imagine,” Allegra recalled. “Anytime a blizzard came through the neighborhood, we’d go sleighing down the road.” Mack would bring a new element to Allegra Farm’s business: sleigh rides.
"Going out in a blizzard and driving around the streets with no one around is pretty cool,” Allegra said. Experiencing so much joy during these jaunts got Allegra thinking that maybe others would enjoy dashing through the snow. With this idea in mind, he visited the Connecticut Valley Driving Club.
"‘Forget it, kid, carriage and sleigh rides are from a bygone era. It'll never, never work,’” is the response Allegra said he got. Nonetheless, it worked.
Over the past 40 years, Allegra has given carriage rides at destinations including Mystic Seaport Museum, Gillette Castle and Old Sturbridge Village. Back on the farm, a business had taken off with Allegra offering horse and carriage services for special occasions, including weddings and funerals around New England. The farm also offers carriage, hay and sleigh rides.
As winter months come on, the requests for sleigh rides start rolling in. First things first, there’s got to be snow. “We need for the ground to be frozen, and there needs to be a good base of snow,” Allegra said.
Prices for an hour-long ride start at $250 with the cost increasing depending on the number of people in a party and the type of carriage requested. Sleighs carry between four and six riders. Carriages carry as few as two riders, but trolley versions can accommodate 20. During the rides his drivers are adorned in 19th century attire, replete with top hats.
Have a vision for your experience? Allegra says, “You dream it, we’ll make it happen.” This could involve the addition of hot chocolate around a bonfire or special touches for a marriage proposal. Guests might also be given a behind-the-scenes look at some of the carriages on the property that were once part of his former Horse Drawn Carriage and Sleigh Museum of New England.
When there’s no snow, the farm offers carriage rides around Lake Hayward. “Most people have never touched a horse before, much less gone for a sleigh or carriage ride,” Allegra said. Many folks who come to the farm say they’re checking off a bucket list item. Seeing the happiness they experience, Allegra reminds them, “It doesn’t have to be a once-in-a-lifetime thing.”
Allegra Farm isn't the only place offering a horse-drawn experience in Connecticut. Wood Acres Farm in Terryville is "a little bit of [an] over-the-river-and-through-the-woods kind of a deal,” Taylor Boudreau, the farm’s office manager, said. “Rides take place on our 25-acre farm with its wooded trails, open fields and two man-made ponds. It’s a mix of all the best things in New England.”
The 35 to 40-minute carriage and sleigh rides cost $195 (per ride, up to four passengers). Add champagne for two for $25. Larger groups of up to 10 can hop aboard a Grand Wagonette or Grand Sleigh for $300. Those looking to bring an even bigger party of up to 20 can also consider a hayride. All rides include hot cocoa around the farmhouse’s wood stove post-ride. It’s also possible to request a bonfire. Wood Acres Farm’s carriage and sleigh rides are available seven days a week on the hour from noon to 4 p.m. Prices may vary depending on holidays and add-ons. Some Wood Acres carriages and sleighs are antiques and others are reproductions with modern-day features.
To learn more about Allegra Farm’s carriage and sleigh rides, visit allegrafarm.com or phone 860-680-5149 or 860-537-8861. For information about Wood Acres Farm, visit woodacresfarm.com or call 860-583-8670.
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