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The most popular ride, is the Nevis beach and trail ride, which begins with a walk
past Ft. Ashby, the first fort on the island built in 1650, leading you to one of the many secluded beaches on Nevis. Along the way, you will pass Nelson's Spring, a beautiful lagoon where clipper ships once filled up
with fresh drinking water. As you continue through Calhoun Estate where you will see Brahma cattle and in the distance, St. Thomas' Anglican Church, the oldest active Anglican
Church in the Caribbean (1643). You then turn east and slowly climb the mountain slope to Paradise Estate, where you will see ruins of a sugar mill and, a little farther off, the magnificent estate homes at Four
Seasons. Your ride then continues through the bush, above the Four Seasons world-renowned golf course, to several grand local homes. You continue on through the village of Barnes Ghaut (ghaut meaning gorge or ravine),
more bush and on to the village of Cotton Ground, which derives its name from the production of cotton in years past. The people of this village are warm and friendly and you don't want to forget the name of your horse
because the young children, who know the horses, will question you as to which one you are riding. You will then return to the beach where you can stop to take pictures and observe
the local fishermen bring in their catch for the day, ending your ride with a cool walk through a coconut grove. Upon returning to the stable, you will enjoy a refreshing tropical drink and sit and watch the horses take
a cooling bath. Just another wonderful day in paradise!! This is only the basic ride. You can do much more, including a 2.5 hour mountain ride, or a six-day horseback vacation coupled with accommodations at the Inn at
Cades Bay. Proprietors, Erika Guilbert-Walters and John & Alison Guilbert raised Arabian show horses for twenty-five years in California, USA before moving to Nevis in 1994.
Erika, who began riding at the age of five, is a trained hunter-jumper rider who gives riding lessons and holds holiday/summer camps. She also conducts therapeutic riding, as a community service, for students with
special needs. Two of her students, which she and another volunteer coached, brought home three gold and one silver medal from the Special Olympics held in North Carolina, USA in 1999. She is in the process of training
three athletes to compete in the Special Olympics World Games in Ireland in 2003. Erika applies this same dedication and commitment to her trail horses. |
