It’s clip-clop time in the city

The old-fashioned charm of a horse-drawn carriage ride reaffirmed to Spokane newcomers that they picked the right place to raise their family.

Anna Smolinski arrived Saturday afternoon in downtown Spokane with her 4-year-old son Samuel, 2-year-old daughter Annabelle, and husband, Matt, to take part in the experience.

“It’s hard to find something like this in most places,” said Anna Smolinski, whose family moved to Spokane from Tempe, Ariz., three weeks ago. “I’m just so glad they have nice people willing to do this.”

“It was fun on the ride,” her 4-year-old son added.

The horse-drawn carriage rides started Friday. The free rides, which go from Wall to Washington over to Spokane Falls Boulevard and back to Wall Street, are sponsored by the Spokane Teachers Credit Union. The opportunity to take part in the old-fashioned tradition continues through Christmas Eve.

Donna and Bruce Spencer hold the reins that guide the stately horses, Highfalutin and Manly Stanley, through the downtown streets. It’s the Post Falls, Idaho, couple’s third year leading the horse-drawn carriage in Spokane.

“Manly Stanley is the leader in the corral,” Bruce Spencer said. “Out here he’s a little shy. In the city, there are all kinds of new noises.”

During most of the year, Spencer uses the horses for logging in Idaho forests. So the two quarter horse, shire mix equines are used to a more serene environment. The horses wear blinders to help keep their eyes on the road, and they listen closely to their soft-spoken owner’s directions.

Spencer’s wife was the main force behind getting into the business of offering carriage rides. “It’s our bonding moment through the holidays,” Bruce Spencer said.

The two sit up front, bundled in blankets, and engage the carriage riders in conversation or join in on a Christmas carol.

“Some rides are exceptionally joyful, because people are in the Christmas spirit,” said Donna Spencer, referring to those who belt out the holiday tunes while on the 15- to 20-person carriage.

On Saturday, the second group to board the carriage sang “Jingle Bells.”

“What I want to say is thank you,” Anna Smolinski said after her ride. “It means a lot to me, it makes me feel good about moving to Spokane.”

“It was fantastic,” said Matt Smolinski.

Aside from the holiday moments that the Spencers have shared with Spokane residents, the couple has also played a part in many marriage proposals. One in particular stood out in their memories.

A young man asked them to happen by while he and his girlfriend were waiting for dinner reservations downtown. When the horse-drawn carriage appeared, the man asked if they could go for a short ride while they waited. The carriage took the couple through Riverfront Park, where a small package was sitting under a light. The package had the girlfriend’s name on it. The man was on his knee ready to propose when she discovered it was a ring.

Bruce Spencer also spoke of an experience that was memorable, but not so good. A bus driver, who was perhaps running late, zoomed by the carriage and spooked Manly Stanley. “We made the block a little faster than we usually do.”