LYMAN ”“ A horse-drawn carriage ride through the woods Sunday at the Abenaki Draft Horse Association’s annual maple breakfast was a little bumpy.

“It’s like a roller coaster,” joked Richard Fortin, who drove the wagon, led by two sturdy Belgian draft horses, King and Pete.

As the ride neared a dip in the trail, he warned the cart full of people, “It’s going get a little rough.”

The carriage rides were part of festivities Sunday at the club’s annual maple breakfast.

The club was scheduled to have carriage rides in February, but had to cancel its annual Winterfest due to too much snow.

“The snow was up to here on them,” said Fortin, pointing to his thigh.

When the ride was over, the large, muscular horses, glistening with sweat, took a breather.

Draft horses are generally good natured and easy to train, said club member

Tom Bragg.

The club, which has been in existence for more than 25 years, promotes the ownership and use of draft horses in traditional farm-type work, he said.

“We try to keep the tradition going,” said Bragg.

The club has events a few times a year to generate money for expenses such as keeping up the Duke Lane clubhouse property, he said.

The club is open to all draft-horse enthusiasts, regardless of whether they own a team of horses, said member George Day.

“Anbody’s welcome,” he said. “It’s a good, friendly group of people.”

Day said club members were helpful when he first joined and was learning how to drive the horses.

Those interested in learning more about the club can check out its Facebook page.

­­— Staff Writer Liz Gotthelf can be contacted at 282-1535, ext.325 or egotthelf@journaltribunecom.