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| The next trail ride is planned for Sunday, March 9 at Boulderwood Stables. (Photo courtesy AV俱乐部 Equestrian Society) |
To make up for high winds and sub-zero temperatures, members of the AV俱乐部 Equestrian Society picked up the pace to keep warm. Trail rides with the DES are a completely different riding experience.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a pretty exciting ride,鈥� says Alain Bryden, DES president. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not your basic trail ride that you get on vacation where they sit you on a horse and walk you around in circles.鈥�
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鈥檚 not too late. Plenty of events remain for this term, including , a workshop in 鈥渆quine massage鈥� 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.
鈥淚 really like the bake sale because we get to tell people about our society and be involved in the student body,鈥� 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. 鈥淭he society is for people who just happen to be interested in horses or equestrian activities,鈥� says Mr. Bryden, a fourth-year student majoring in physics and computer science. 鈥淭hey may have never ridden before in their lives, or they may have been riding their entire lives.鈥�
More serious riders can join the AV俱乐部 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 鈥淚 live in the country so there are barns everywhere and here in Halifax you鈥檙e restricted, so it鈥檚 an outlet to be in the horse world.鈥�
She adds, 鈥淚t鈥檚 a great society. Everyone should join.鈥�
Michelle Hampson is a first-year student and aspiring journalist.
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