Mother surveyed the boxes of presents on the table, as well as a basket with cookies and pie. Out the window, as the darkness gave way to early morning light, she could see Father leading Sunshine, their Arabian mare, from the stable as the white-and-speckled horse pulled the buggy behind her.

Mother worried the buggy was too small for the presents, the food, Father and herself. But, with the snow, Father assured her that, since the buggy is lighter than the wagon, the three-hour trip from McHenry to Crystal Lake would be easier on Sunshine, all the more so if they had more snow.

As Mother contemplated the ride to visit her daughter, son-in-law and, above all, their new granddaughter, she sighed and smiled. Usually, Virginia and Bob would come to McHenry for Christmas. But, Mother and Father had insisted they didn’t want their three-week-old granddaughter making that trip in the cold.

At that moment, a blast of cold air filled the kitchen as father came in the back door, stomped his feet and stepped towards the packages on the table.

“There’s no point in stomping your feet if you’re just going right back out again,” Mother said with a furrowed brow.

“Of course, dear,” Father said obligingly. “Just a matter of habit.”

Soon, the buggy was ready and Mother pulled on her winter coat, wrapped a scarf around her neck and headed out the door where Father waited. The cold bit at her cheeks as she climbed into the buggy. Father climbed on beside her and spread a quilt across their laps. Then, he grasped the reins firmly, flipped them lightly and gave a little cluck to get Sunshine started.

Father didn’t like the idea of Mother making this long ride in the cold. Last winter, she had become terribly sick with bronchitis. He worried about her health. That explained why he was all-the-more prudent in maintaining the wagon and buggy. He didn’t believe they could afford for either to breakdown on the road, especially in the winter.

Father had repacked the bearings with grease only a couple of weeks before. He checked the spoked-wooden wheels for splinters and cracks and then applied a new coat of paint. He also checked the springs and undergear. Then he looked at the leather of the driving halter, the breast strap, the trace, hitch harness and breeching strap. There wasn’t a part of the rig that he didn’t inspect.

Finally, ensuring that they could reliably travel the country roads of McHenry County included one more vital aspect – the health of the horse.

The farrier was out to the farm just the week before and Father had checked Sunshine’s shoes that morning after cleaning out her hooves.

Her diet was also vitally important. With grass hard to come by in the field these days, Sunshine received a hearty supply of hay – hay that Father inspected to ensure it was free of dust or mold. He also gave her oats. Though some gave their horses corn as a cheap substitute for more expensive diets, Father worried corn might give Sunshine colic or swell her legs.

He made regular trips out to the pasture and her stall to make sure that she always had unfrozen water to drink.

All the care and attention made Sunshine a healthy and happy horse. And, on days, such as this Christmas day, it paid dividends that Sunshine was up to the ride at hand.

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When Mother and Father set out that Christmas morning, it was around 1900. The roads in McHenry County were dirt and the primary mode of transportation was horse – whether riding on the horse or in a horse-drawn carriage. But, some things haven’t changed.

In 1900, as is the case now, maintenance of a vehicle, from the wheels to the engine, in this case a horse, was vital. Should the horse throw a shoe, a wheel spoke splinter or a rein separate, they could find their arrival delayed or, worse, cancelled. They might even find themselves stranded, in which case, their situation could turn out very serious.

And what of potholes in the road, or an animal that might spook their horse? Ensuring that the horse was well trained, well fed and cared for, and pulled a fit and proper buggy ensured that they would have the best chance in such an emergency.

Such is still the same today. Horses are counted in the hundreds under the hood but, if the buggy isn’t properly cared for, from the undercarriage to the heat inside the cabin, a three-hour trip, or a 15-minute ride to the store, can turn out to be quite an unexpected adventure.

Here at Performance Unlimited, we wish you a safe and wonderful holiday and a Happy New Year.