City slickers welcome…
Horseback adventures being offered at Manganese Mines ranch
Ashley A’court’s goal is to give people the “Alberta ranch experience” right here in Nova Scotia.
The Manganese Mines woman is now offering horseback adventures, including trails rides and overnight camp stays.
“Being in the woods with horses and good people is the best feeling in the world,” she said. “I love it, and if you’re passionate about something, it’s not work.”
She and her husband, Ryan, own Kinship Farms, and Ashley started offering organized trail rides earlier this year.
“I have six solid, trustworthy horses ready for trails,” she said. “Most are Appaloosas. I really like them because, colour-wise, they’re attractive, and the ones I have are even tempered.”
The A’courts have 80 acres on their farm, and a cabin with another two acres. Overnight adventures involve riding to the cabin, enjoying snacks and an activity like painting, and then sleeping next to the area where the horses are stabled.
“It’s quite a cowgirl/cowboy experience, and what I want is to provide an experience,” said Ashley.
Overnight adventures are offered Fridays and Saturdays, with group trail rides available Mondays and Fridays, lessons on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and Ashley’s A’court grooms Quincy, one of the horses at Kinship Farms. Quincy is one of the horses often used for
children’s programs on Thursdays.
During the summer, there will be overnight kids’ camps for ages nine and older.
Ashley knows the area well. Kinship Farms is across the road from her father’s old farm, where she grew up, and she and her best friend began riding through the trails when they were young.
“I loved being on the trails then and I love it now,” she said. “This is something I’m planning for the long term. I hope we can still be doing this when we retire.”
Visitors to the farm can enjoy
the company of several animals, including a goose called Tiny, Emilio the steer, and the hens that work at insect control.
“There’s something special about horses; they have such a calming effect,” said Ashley. “I love it here. Walking into your barn and being greeted by your herd is such a great feeling.”
More information on the programs offered at the farm can be obtained by messaging through Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/kinshipfarms/