It was over the river and through the woods, but not to grandmother's house.

Instead, it was just for fun and the experience of a lifetime, said those who took advantage of the offer.A few dozen turned out Sunday for the season finale of an event which has been provided free to the public all season long, courtesy of Raynor and Joan Leiby of Tamaqua.Each winter, the Leiby family's Belgian draft horses get a healthful workout pulling a vintage 1920s milk delivery wagon filled with smiling faces.The ride, offered at 933 Valley Road, provides an atmosphere akin to a scene from an old Currier and Ives print.Adventurous passengers stand on a bale of hay, where they're helped onto the sleigh for an authentic, old-fashioned ride through the countryside.Drivers Molly Dinich of Forestville and Marisa Marmas of Pottsville take guests on a 20-minute circuit over the rolling hills and through picturesque scenery framed by tall evergreen and deciduous trees.Visitors said it's something they'll always remember, an experience they just don't find at Knoebel's or Dorney.A donation box allows folks the opportunity to help defray expenses by tossing in an offering.For Linda Smith of Lansford, it was a unique thrill."It reminds me of a TV commercial I saw," she said.Linda Yulanavage of Tamaqua took the ride on the driver's bench seat."Thanks to Marisa and Molly for letting me sit up front for my bucket-list sleigh ride. Awesome! I'm smiling inside and out," she said.The event, hosted by Leiby's Carriage Service, is growing in popularity and was offered over the past seven weeks, both Saturday and Sunday, even when the air was biting cold, said coordinator Heather Flannery of New Philadelphia.Guests are invited to sit at the bonfire and toast marshmallows to chase away the chill. They said it was the perfect way to spend the afternoon.In fact, the sleigh rides might just be the area's best-kept secret."There's nothing like this around," Flannery said.To help get the word out, Marmas said, they recently launched a Facebook page."We already have 700 likes," she said.But now that the weather is turning warmer, the rides will halt and the horses will be used for parades and other special events, Flannery said.The family-friendly sleigh rides, however, are expected to resume next winter.