gentle giants sleigh and carriage rides

I went for a sleigh ride with my wife and inlaws, the employees were very nice and accommodating. We had a great time!

We booked a sleigh ride as part of a package with the B&B we were staying at. It was a neat experience and extremely picturesque Vermont with the red sleighs and the big horses. Our guide was friendly and answered our questions, though it was hard to hear him from the back of the sleigh. That said, we were in and out of the place in 25 minutes, which included time for a few photos. For as much as they charge I would have expected a ride twice as long. I'm happy we did it, but I wouldn't do it again with this company for the cost.

First of all this is a very good experience - especially with children and they all thoroughly enjoyed it. However - as the paying adult there are some major disappointments. Firstly we were told the ride lasts around 25/30 minutes and we were back within 15. There was no commentary about the area or the horses from the sleigh-driver to enhance the experience and was all a bit abrupt and lacked personal interaction. The younger ones were also very keen to pet the horse at the end but this was not at all encouraged and were rushed along as the next people had arrived. As others have said it is incredibly expensive and after parting with well over $100 for the 15 minutes you can't help but feel a little robbed. This could be a really outstanding experience but they need to focus more on customer experience and less on profit margins!!

We did not go for a sleigh ride, but enjoyed watching them tot through the snow, sleigh bells jingling, as we xc skied on the path!

We were a group of 7 adults and 2 young children, and they are able to accomodate that size group in one large sleigh pulled by two Percheron draft horses (Mack and Donny). They also have a few Belgians. One-horse sleighs are available for smaller parties.The rides are offered for 30 minutes, just north of the town of Stowe, close to the ski area. We all enjoyed it a great deal, despite the cold. I used to own horses, and could see these horses are obviously well cared for, and the equipment was in very good condition, indicating the level of knowledge and the attitude of the outfit. They provide warm, wind-proof blankets to sit on as well as to cover yourself with, so even though it was bitterly cold that day everyone was pretty comfortable. The ride passes over a small covered bridge, along a wooded stream, and then turns around in a meadow to return to the starting point. Some of us were humming 'Jingle Bells', others 'Over the river and through the woods'. You could really imagine being in a different time. The time passed very quickly; the driver told us about the horses and answered our questions, though people in the back of the sleigh couldn't really hear him over the bells and wind. He'd been there for a number of years; again, it tells me these are not people out making a quick buck from a tourist but real horse-people providing a good experience. It was cold enough that we were glad to get back, but in less extreme cold I would have liked a longer trip. It felt like we'd just gotten started. If you go, please keep an eye on your group. We saw small children with other groups who were not being carefully watched by their parents, which risks the well being of people and animals even with well-mannered horses like these. It would have been lovely if there was hot cocoa or cider on our return; that's not provided, though a suggestion for future business. We went from there to the brewery at the Von Trapp Lodge, a few minutes down the road, and that worked out well. The other thing you should know is that it's easier if you can plan your sleigh ride in advance. There is apparently just the one phone for Gentle Giants in a small shed where you check in on arrival. Since there are only a couple of people running the place, catching them on the phone can be tricky. I had brought a couple of apples with me to offer the horses, but they prefer you don't feed them.

We did a trip of 11 but it was really boring ,just sat in a carriage pulled through a field ,and through a small few trees ,supposedly a wood...worth about 10 dollars a head not the astronomical,cost we paid .

The ride was short, maybe about 15-20 minutes. They don't have their pricess listes anywhere, so they will overcharge you if they feel like they can. We were charged $48 per adult, and $25 for a 10 year old. Not impressed at all, especially not for the price.

After a full day of skiing we stopped for a sleigh ride at Gentle Giants before dinner. Even though we didn't have reservations, they got us on a sleigh with a gorgeous brown horse (can't remember the breed but was told he weighed "a ton"). They took photos of us with our cameras, put warm blankets on us, and gave us an amazing ride. The driver was eager to answer our questions and provide great information about the area. I highly recommend this Stowe business. We will always remember how kind and caring they were toward the horses. Thank you!

On vacation from florida, driving through stowe we cam across gentle giants and decided to stop, we boarded the sleigh and the horse took off, the driver was not able to control the horse, he went into a full out run, she was screaming for the horse to slow down, I knew in that instance this was not going to be good. He took a curve and we were thrown out of the sleigh and the horse ended up stuck between some trees. The horse was cut up and bleeding. We appeared to be ok, however fire rescue was never called. This probably has never happened, but every business should have some emergency policy in place. We realize this was no ones fault and very random, however we called the next day to check on the horse, but the owner never really inquired how we were, and we were the customer, just a little disappointed she was not very concerned for us or our safety. Once again we realize it was not her fault and has probably never happened, kind of almost ruined our wonderful vacation

Staying at Trapp, we were not amused when the sleigh rides they offered were not available on our first day there & fully booked on our second & last day. It was one of the things we had looked forward to enjoying. Fortunately, reception were helpful & marked a route on a map to take us to Gentle Giants (who did not answer their phone as, I assume, they were taking people on rides when we rang) but actually didn't open till 11.We were touring the area anyway, so drove up towards Topnotch & were pleased to find them open. The price was $39.50 each and when I asked how far the ride was the lady said she'd never measured it, but that it was a lovely ride. I think it ended up around a mile through the snow laden fields and woods. It was a lovely experience and something we'll remember. Not cheap, but really we would still recommend as we really enjoyed it. We apologise to Jack (the hoss) for our rendition of Jingle Bells through the woods, but it had to be done....

I loved the sleigh ride with my girlfriend. The lady driver was very nice. Took a bunch of pictures of us together in the sleigh. It was wonderful going through all the snow covered trees and looking at the beautiful scenery. The horse even put on a little show in certain parts and sped up which was fun.

What a wonderful time we had on our loop along the Stowe bike path. The trip takes about one-half hour and would be particularly spectacular in fall and winter. We did enjoy Vermont's lush greenery and delightful conversation with the driver. There are several different carriages to accommodate different size parties. Be sure to make a reservation.

We were in Stowe celebrating our 10th Anniversary. This activity was on the pricy side, but we had planned for it. The day was perfect and the fall colors were amazing! Seeing it all while enjoying a lovely carriage ride was breathtaking! The horses are well-fed, the equipment well-maintained. Everything was top notch. We will definately do this again next time we visit Stowe!

A delightful time with Rochelle , our guide, and Mac , the horse . We had a nice carriage for 5. We took lots of pictures and then went for a leisure ride out to the meadow. It was about a 30 minute ride for 34.50 per person. It was a gorgeous day and we had a very nice time. Would love to come back in the winter for a sleigh ride , but it was nice being the only ones during the off season.

Gentle Giants was a great bargain and a wonderful ride throughout the meadow near the recreation path. It was only about $35 per person and the rides are just for you and your family. Our guide Rochelle was friendly and informative. The horses were sweet and well cared for. Some of the horses were out grazing in the pasture while a couple were ready to work. My husband and I don't really approve of the carriage rides in NY (near where we are from) because we worry about the horses. These horses obviously are well cared for and are friendly. we even got to feed them carrots when we were done!