A sleigh is a vehicle designed to glide smoothly over snow and ice, pulled by horses, reindeer, or dogs. Instead of wheels, a sleigh has long, curved runners underneath, like skis, that let it slide across snowy ground without getting stuck.

For centuries, sleighs were a practical way to travel in winter when snow covered the roads and wheels couldn't turn. Families would bundle up in warm blankets and ride in sleighs to visit neighbors or go to town. The horses wore special bells on their harnesses that jingled as they trotted, warning other travelers they were coming and adding a cheerful sound to winter journeys.

Today, most people know sleighs from holiday stories and songs, like Santa's famous sleigh pulled by reindeer. But in snowy places, people still use sleighs for fun winter rides or in places where vehicles can't go. Dog teams still pull sleds across Alaska's frozen wilderness, and some farms offer sleigh rides as a special winter activity.

When you hear someone say they went for a sleigh ride, they might be talking about that special experience of gliding quietly through a winter landscape, hearing the swoosh of the runners and maybe the jingle of bells.