Saturday, December 16, 2023 | Country Acres South • Page 1 PRSRT STD ECR U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT #278 Madelia, MN 522 Sinclair Lewis Ave Sauk Centre MN 56378
SOUTH S OUTH Saturday, December 16, 2023
Focusing on Today’s Rural Environment
Volume 2, Edition 14
Jingling all the
way PHOTOS SUBMITTED
BJ Stoppelmoor drives the sleigh through the snow in a recent winter at Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch near Stewartville. The ranch has Ironwood access to about 250 acres with trails. Springs Christian drawn wagon and sleigh and snowing up here and there’s relaxing. When people are in idea).” cutter rides through the winter snow on the trees,” Bashore the wagon and they’re listening One family has made the Ranch offers with weekly public rides on said. “There’s nothing like it. to the clump, clump, clump, rides part of their Christmas Saturdays and private book... It’s not something people clump ... and the bells, it’s very celebration and they’re 20 years winter wagon, ings. experience very often.” rhythmic. ... People will say into their tradition at Ironwood sleigh rides Tracy Bashore, who is the There are also a couple of they don’t like music, but they Springs Christian Ranch.
executive director at Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch, said the rides have been going on since the beginning of the STEWARTVILLE — ranch in 1976. Brass bells jingle as a horseThere are 34 horses at drawn wagon glides genIronwood Springs Christian tly along a wooded trail at Ranch, and in the summer, they Ironwood Springs Christian offer trail riding youth horse Ranch, bringing a new dimen- day camps, womens’ equestrian sion to the classic Christmas and mother-daughter equestrian song “Jingle Bells.” weekends. “I just hope that they Last year, they did about (customers) have fun,” said BJ 50 horse-drawn wagon and Stoppelmoor, equine director sleigh and cutter rides, serving at Ironwood Springs Christian approximately 800 people. Ranch. “I’m providing a serThey begin each season using vice for them so that they can the wagon until there is proper enjoy part of my world.” snow pack for the sleigh and Ironwood Springs Chris- cutter. tian Ranch provides horse“It’s pretty cool when it’s BY AMY KYLLO STAFF WRITER
rabbits on the ride which guests can take turns holding. Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch has access to about 250 acres with trails. The horses for the wagon and sleigh and cutter rides are approximately 1,800 pound, nine and a half year old Belgian geldings. “It engages all your senses, smelling the freshness in the air along with hearing their footsteps,” Stoppelmoor said. “It’s very
don’t know they do.” Marriage proposals have occurred during rides, Stoppelmoor said. At one such proposal, she said there were tea light candles nestled in the snow on the benches at the proposal site, and there were roses and a photographer. “It’s just so fun,” Stoppelmoor said. “She acted like she didn’t know what was going on, but I think she (had an
Guests ride in the sleigh in a recent winter at Ironwood Springs Christian Ranch near Stewartville. Last year, the ranch provided approximately 50 horse drawn wagon, sleigh and cutter rides, serving approximately 800 people.
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Stoppelmoor said another family sings during the entire ride. “They always do ‘The Twelve days of Christmas,’ and they always had us participate,” she said. Preparing for a ride begins at least 45 minutes before the guests board. Horses must be caught, groomed and harnessed before the ride begins. Afterward, in winter weather, the horses must be cooled down. Immediately after unharnessing, they get a cooler — which is like a big blanket— put on them. This helps wick away their sweat. It is changed every 30 minutes until they are dry, which can take up to two hours. Their necks and stomachs are towel dried.
Ironwood Springs page 2
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Christmas program Amy Kyllo Column
9
Spreading the spirit Preston
5
A sweet legacy Plainview
13 A community Christmas story Plainview