By STEPHANIE WELDY
Those who spot the unique scene of a horse-drawn carriage making its way down Novato’s streets are likely seeing Gary Sello.
The 68-year-old Novato resident started the Indian Valley Carriage Co., nearly 15 years ago and each holiday season he can be found taking bundled-up riders on a 50-minute tour through city streets to view holiday lights.
Q How did you get into this line of business?
A I started it in about 2002. I’ve had horses since I was a teenager and at some point, I had the opportunity to buy a carriage and horses down at the wharf ,and I started hanging out with some older gentlemen who lived near me who would drive in doubles a lot. I got into driving doubles with a team of horses. I started driving in the city and then I bought a carriage and I trained a cattle horse and a good Arabian horse how to pull a carriage. There was some opportunity in Novato doing these Christmas rides and I started doing that.
Q Can you lay out the scene for what the holiday lights tour is like?
A For these Christmas rides, I mostly take out the big wagon, cause a lot of people like to take a whole big group. You have 10 to 12 people with babies on their laps. Sometimes they bring guitars. You go from big, loud rides and the next night you might have just a couple there that’s very quiet, enjoying the peace and quiet. It goes from quiet and intimate to loud and raucous.
Q Some people bring instruments and play during the ride?
A More so in the big wagons, because there’s more room. We have some families who show up for these holiday light tours and they bring instruments. I have one family, three daughters and the their daughters’ best friends. They come with a guitar, two song books and some people sing but others make music. These people make drop-dead gorgeous music and the horses are trotting along, they have steel shoes on. You hear their foot falls and these people are singing in sweet harmony. They sing Christmas carols like they’re meant to be sung, rather than just being loud.
Q How far do you take riders on for the holiday lights tour?
A We probably travel about a little less than three miles. It takes about 50 minutes. Forty-five minutes (for the ride) and then we allow 10 minutes for going through the Rombeiro Christmas house (34 Devonshire Dr. in Novato) if they want to, and a couple of minutes for loading and unloading. I do about four rides in a good night. We start at 5:30 (p.m.), and do another at 6:30, 7:30 and 8: 30.
Q Are you tours popular?
A Probably by the second or third week in November I’m 75 percent booked.
https://www.marinij.com/2016/12/23/horse-drawn-carriage-takes-riders-on-holiday-jaunt/