sleigh bells

[ward_hill]

Helping a friend with a house cleanout last summer, I found some sleigh bells that appeared to be quite old. About a dozen bells are attached to a canvas strap that's roughly 24 inches long by 3/4 in wide. The metal is of a solid gauge and they make the classic sleigh bell sound, not at all tinny.

I'd like to sew the canvas onto a 26 inch nylon buckle collar to create a sleigh bell collar for Buckley.

Maureen is afraid that the sound will hurt his ears. I thought it would be kind of fun, but certainly don't want to damage his hearing. Maybe not a good idea?

 

[R Taft]

It won't hurt..........We have sleigh bells on one of our horse harnesses, they run from the ears to the wither.So they are very close to their ears. And horses are even more sensitive to sound. they even have "open" ears. Once they were used to them by slow progressive approach, they were fine. As am sure Buckley would be. We do however have one horse who is not too keen on them, but he hates most sounds.
We started by first having them on the ground in the yard with them. I would approach and retreat if i saw any reaction. We just came closer each time and stayed longer. After that we travelled with them in the carriage, on to the shafts and eventually near the ears. Most sleigh bells do not follow the mane-line, but that is how these old Russian ones were made. One of our horses also has Bell bracelets on when we travel at Christmas. Now that takes some getting used to. But like with anything start slow and make it all safe and a happy experience and it will happen..........Have fun


As an add on...........I read somewhere that sleigh bells were added during snow time, because it goes very quite and it gives a continuous sound, sothat horses do not get a fright from a sudden sound in those very quiet times. Say a branch cracking with the weight of snow.......Not 100% sure as to how true

 

[BigJimsmagik]

That actually makes sense. snow dampens sound a lot and more so when it is falling.
maybe it was also meant to be like a warning to on-comming sleighs or a way to locate a sleigh in the dark if for some reason they left it? there were no streetlamps back then!

I think it is a great Idea! I think they would be less harmful than the tinnier sounding bells.

 

[ward_hill]

Thanks, Ronnie! Your gang looks fantastic in their Christmas finery!

 

[NinaA]

Our dogs love sleigh bells. The first time I took one to the vet's wearing a bell they couldn't get over it, but I have trouble keeping the dogs off of the ones we have, because they think they should be wearing them all!!! I'd sure give it a try, also I'd take very good care of those bells. They're probably very hard to find, if they're not tinny sounding.

 

[M & M's Mom Linda]

We have a beautiful set of antique brass sleigh bells on leather about 6 ft long. The sound is very mellow and we have used them on Max's cart. Doesn't seem to bother him a bit. The sound is just beautiful! Polishing them and oiling the leather though is a pain...oh well!

 

[ward_hill]

We have a beautiful set of antique brass sleigh bells on leather about 6 ft long. The sound is very mellow and we have used them on Max's cart. Doesn't seem to bother him a bit. The sound is just beautiful! Polishing them and oiling the leather though is a pain...oh well!

I had thought of sending it to Hogan to have them make something. Maybe next year.

Not sure what the bells are made of.