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| The next trail ride is planned for Sunday, March 9 at Boulderwood Stables. (Photo courtesy Dalhousie Equestrian Society) |
To make up for high winds and sub-zero temperatures, members of the Dalhousie Equestrian Society picked up the pace to keep warm. Trail rides with the DES are a completely different riding experience.
“It’s a pretty exciting ride,” says Alain Bryden, DES president. “It’s not your basic trail ride that you get on vacation where they sit you on a horse and walk you around in circles.”
Even beginners were able to canter and had the hang of it by the end of the ride, which took place along snowy woodland trails last November at Boulderwood Stables in Ardoise, about a 40-minute drive from Halifax. They quickly learned to duck when racing by low-hanging branches, which even experienced trail riders can occasionally forget.
For any horse lovers out there who are not yet members of DES, it’s not too late. Plenty of events remain for this term, including another trail ride on Sunday, March 9, a workshop in “equine massage” and a movie night.
DES began the new term with its famous bake sale. With every sale, the tables are set up with goodies, and enthusiastic DES members line up with their sales pitches. Meanwhile, a computer flashes slides of beautiful horse pictures.
“I really like the bake sale because we get to tell people about our society and be involved in the student body,” says Johanna Lowe, a passionate DES member.
The DES is also trying to arrange a social night at the Grawood, but there is no official date yet. The theme? Cowboys and cowgirls, of course.
Joining the fun is not hard, since the requirement for DES membership is simple. “The society is for people who just happen to be interested in horses or equestrian activities,” says Mr. Bryden, a fourth-year student majoring in physics and computer science. “They may have never ridden before in their lives, or they may have been riding their entire lives.”
More serious riders can join the Dalhousie Equestrian Team through the DES. The team is a competitive horseback riding team that competes throughout the year against other maritime university teams.
Stephanie Doyle says she joined because “I live in the country so there are barns everywhere and here in Halifax you’re restricted, so it’s an outlet to be in the horse world.”
She adds, “It’s a great society. Everyone should join.”
Michelle Hampson is a first-year student and aspiring journalist.
LINKS: Dalhousie Equestian Society | Dalhousie Equestrian Society on Facebook
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