Dashing through the snow, on a two-horse open sleigh
Editor’s Note: Tom Cyr has passed away, and Black Horse Farm has closed.
Photo by Martin Ludden
By Jacob Wheeler
Sun editor
“You wouldn’t believe the number of families that come to Black Horse Farm, ride in our horse-drawn sleighs and then use the family photo in their Christmas card,” said Tom Cyr, who together with wife Kathy own the horse drawn service company near Empire. “Sometimes they send us Christmas cards afterward. That’s rewarding.”
Black Horse Farm specializes in carriages, sleigh rides, hay rides and horse logging services. Sleigh rides are particularly popular during snowy and white winters such as the one we’re currently experiencing. During the Christmas season, Tom’s team of Percheron horses pulled 15 rides a day at their property off Plowman Rd. He expects steady weekend business through January and February—as long as the snow covers the ground.
“It’s fun to give people that experience,” said Cyr. “We’re not that far removed—three generations maybe—from a horse-drawn society. The little ones want to know specific facts about horses. What you do with them, how they work, what their temperament is. When we unhitch at the barn, we let little ones walk them into the stables. Of course, the horses know where to go.”
Cyr is loyal to his customers, his passengers. Sometimes they’re even more loyal to him.
“A couple years ago we had extra cold weather,” Cyr explained. “I called people the night before and told them, ‘if you have kids, you might want to consider canceling the ride tomorrow’. But the first guy I called answered, ‘I drove all the way from Ohio for a sleigh ride. Don’t cancel on me!’”
Black Horse Farm draws from all over the country and the world. On New Year’s Day his sleigh carried passengers from the Carolinas. New Year’s Eve featured one from Denmark. (My sister and her family from Minnesota joined us for a sleigh ride just after Christmas in what has become an annual Holiday tradition.)
“People appreciate the winter we have here in northern Michigan when it’s cold and snowy,” said Cyr.
Tom has owned horses and pulled a sleigh for 50 years; he has done so commercially for more than 20 years.
“I’ve fooled with horses and ponies since I was a youngster,” he said. “About 35 years ago I started with draft horses, big horses. I bought several good mares and a good stallion, but we stopped breeding them a few years ago. You can only get knocked down so many times,” he laughed.
Four years ago the Cyrs had 18 horses; now they have eight—seven of which were born at Black Horse Farm.
“I’m 73 yrs old,” he said. “Every year gets a little harder. Time will tell how long we do this.”
To contact Black Horse Farm or to book a ride, call 231-334-4705 or visit BlackHorseLLC.com.
