Evangeline Trail Rides
Canning, Nova Scotia, 902-582-3365
No Cell - No Email - No Problem!
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Evangeline Trail Rides Canning, Nova Scotia, 902-582-3365 No Cell - No Email - No Problem! |
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The following article by Marlene Huntley best describes Evangeline Trail Rides! |
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Horses
for all seasons and adventures Horses, horses, and more horses! On a northern Kings County
farm, a multitude graze peacefully awaiting their turns to enjoy one of their
home’s many adventures! On the North Mountain, just a short distance up
Glenmont’s Blackhole Road, is Mountain Top Stock Farm and Evangeline Trail
Rides - home to Crystal Sheffield, her husband Vince, their two children, two
dogs - and 35 horses. Though once dedicated to cattle farming, for the last 10
years the 150-acre family farm has been mainly devoted to a wide variety of
horse activities. “I like my horses to be versatile and not trained to do
only one thing,” says Crystal, an accomplished rider, trainer, and instructor.
“My kids are in 4H, and for projects they help me try different activities
throughout the year.” One activity has evolved into a great weekly adventure. No
matter what the season, for a group of up to 24 riders the “Wednesday ride”
has become a tradition. “It began when we started doing lessons here on the farm,
and we would do a trail ride to cool the horses,” says Crystal. “We found we
could learn as much on the trail as in the ring.” Now the group often
“trailers” the horses to experience many different types of trails. Every winter, Crystal and Vince use two large Belgium
horses for logging as they cut new trails on their own land, and for neighbors.
“We groom trails especially for the horses and sleigh. We’ve also used this
team for weddings, proms, and even wagon trains.” Those same horses are also
movie stars, as they and a third horse have performed in the Nova Scotia-filmed
movie Outlander. Each summer, the farm hosts riding camps for kids.
“It’s fun! The camps are for five days including an overnight camping trip
and we set up tents in the barn for the rest of the time.” A certified
horsemanship instructor with a level three in Western and a level two in
English, Crystal holds riding clinics and provides lessons all year round. Also every summer, in memory of a little girl named Heidi
who used to ride at the farm, Evangeline Trail Rides hosts an event to raise
money for cystic fibrosis. “In June, we do a scavenger hunt on our own trails.
People either pay to ride or make donations. We also did a horse pull last
summer.” Sometimes, the events double as breast cancer research fundraisers. Though Crystal keeps 22 horses of her own and boards 13
more, she cannot turn away a horse in need. As a SPCA host, she has taken in as
many as 20 horses at one time. “We’ve worked with horses with a lot of
problems.” For people who think they may want to buy a horse, Crystal
will lease to them. They can ride different horses to see what best suits them.
She also prepares horses for sale. “There isn’t much we don’t do. We have our hands in
many pots - it balances things out!” And with all Crystal and Evangeline Trail
Rides have cooking, there will always be adventure for her and her horses. Story
by Marlene Huntley
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