Carriage Clarification

 We have some more information on Cinderella's carriage thanks to someone who commented anonymously on the original post:

This is a rather typical Landau style of carriage. https://horseyhooves.com/types-of-horse-drawn-carriages/

Made by Les Voitures Robert Carriages, this is probably their Classic, though they also make them for ponies and miniature horses, Vis a Vis, they're one of the largest and one of the last remaining carriage makers in the world, it's a dying art form, sadly. They do actually make the true Cinderella style carriage which is essentially this carriage with a modified roof. http://voituresrobert.com/portfolio/classic-vis-a-vis/?lang=en

This one is set up for a single horse with shafts rather than a team with a central pole, and for some reason the top is not covering the rear facing seats, which it usually would. I am not sure what the knobs are, but would assume you're correct. The metal brake on the driver's foot well is hydraulic, a safety feature to prevent runaway. 

Thanks for sharing! And if you'd like to let us know who you are, you can email me at horsiemama8@yahoo.com.

Cinderella's Carriage

I was sorting through some photos this morning and came across a set taken when The Farm at Prophetstown dedicated their new heirloom orchard in memory of my family's orchard last October. I think I'd intended to do a second blog post about the dedication and include those pictures then, but that never happened.

This carriage is too beautiful and unusual to miss so here are the pictures.

 While it isn't pumpkin shaped, it reminds me of Cinderella's carriage.

I'm not sure where it is stored in the park - I've been in all the barns and never seen it. It could also be a new acquisition which may be why it was parked outside on display for attendees to view.

I know little to nothing about carriages and had a lot of questions. One was, what are these three knobs for that are under the legs of the driver? (My guess is that they may control the lights on the vehicle.)

Or this metal box at the feet of the driver - a brake, maybe?

There are two bench seats, both with purple velvet-covered seats, and one which was under a cover

while the facing seat was out in the open.

Attached to the back of the carriage was this box - probably to carry food and drink, rain gear, and things like that.

The Farm also has a sleigh that is similar in that there are two bench seats that face each other. I know it is called a "vis a vis" (face to face) sleigh, so perhaps this one is called a vis a vis carriage.

I'd love to learn more about this lovely carriage, so if you can share anything, please do! You can post in the comments or by emailing me at horsiemama8@gmail.com. Thanks!

A Dickens of a Carriage Ride

Lafayette designates itself as the Christmas Capital of the Midwest. December is a festive month with the largest Christmas parade in the state, the Purdue Christmas Musical Show, McCord's Candies (which makes and ships homemade candy canes all over the world), and today's Dickens of a Christmas festival.

All of downtown (whose buildings are old, original 1800s-style architecture) is turned into a Victorian town with strolling carolers, an organ grinder, a brass band playing Christmas music, and a re-enactment of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. We decided to head downtown this morning with our kids and grandchildren.

We had a super time watching the organ grinder...

... and listening the the brass band...

The candy canes were yummy and it was fun watching them being made.

I didn't think the day could get any better. But then I spied this:

 A horse and carriage coming down Main Street!

I went over to say "hello" to the horse, and the driver invited us to go for a ride. It turned out that free rides were being given all day long.

I wasn't going to turn that offer down, so Jessica, Cambria, and I climbed into the carriage and away we went through downtown Lafayette! (I love the look on Cambria's face!)

 My view during the ride.

 Curt and Ian took the next ride.

I filmed their ride - that's Cambria wailing because she wanted to go again. Likewise Ian cried when his ride was over, too.

There was also a team of Clydesdales pulling a buckboard that could hold more people. I'm glad we got to ride in that beautiful carriage. For me, it was the best part of the day!