Ever Wonder Where Mackinac Island’s Horses Go In Winter? The Answer Will Surprise You!

On Mackinac Island, the horses are putting in overtime as a source of transportation and a postage carrier.

While the island does not entirely slow down during the winter, I have wondered what happens to the friendly faces that we are greeted by throughout the year.

What happens to the horses on Mackinac Island during the winter?

Mackinac Island Winter "Retirement"

Since it is easier to move the horses than deal with the choppy winter water to transport food and various items to Mackinac Island, most of the horses do not stay on the island.

Where do they go?

Most of the horses "retire" to farms between the Mackinac Bridge and Sault Ste. Marie, according to Mackinac Island's website.

"Although a couple dozen horses remain on Mackinac Island through the offseason delivering mail to year-round residents and transporting workers, most of them retire for the winter to farms between the Mackinac Bridge and Sault Ste. Marie in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Basically, they go on vacation."

The horses deserve a vacation! They basically kick their hooves up, frolic around, sunbathe and eat.

Can I retire like the Mackinac Island horses? It sounds like a chill winter vacation to me!

Once the weather breaks, the horses return to the island in April to continue to "pull drays, draw carriages and provide taxi service."

However, the horses do get back to 'work' gradually!

"Come June, all the horses will be off the farms and back in action on the island. Then for the next few months, as Mackinac Island bustles with visitors and the clip-clop of hooves, the horse farms will be quiet – until next winter when it’s time for the horses to go back on vacation, romping around the fields and whinnying for extra buckets of feed."

For more details about the horses on Mackinac Island, there is plenty of information on the Mackinac Island website.