Homes, Trades and Games of Long Ago · Drawing 22 of 40
A sleigh ride in the snow
Long ago, in winter
In winter, the sleigh slid on runners instead of rolling on wheels. A horse pulled it, with the family bundled under blankets. The bells on the harness jingled along the snowy road.
Look together
What does the sleigh slide on?
An idea to try
Slide a box across a carpet, then the same box set on two rulers: which slides better? Talk about what runners change on snow.
For the adult reading along
A little more to discover
Historical photographs in the McCord Stewart Museum collection, including one of a Montréal carriole taken in 1897, show these horse-drawn winter vehicles. Their runners slide over snow, unlike the wheels of a carriage.
The family, blankets and landscape are imaginary. Find the runners and bells, then compare this carriole with winter transportation your child knows.
Sources and illustration notes (1)
Imaginary sleigh and family; no specific museum vehicle is reproduced.
These links lead to other websites. Explore them with an adult. References identify the institution and the related lesson; some linked pages are in French.
- McCord Stewart Museum — J. C. Holden’s horses and sleigh, Montreal, QC, 1897Photograph of a sleigh and its team in 1897.
Page prepared on September 19, 2026. Illustrations simplify places and scenes; they are not historical documents.
This drawing is from the book Life in Old Québec to Colour
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