Cats and Dogs
Ares is a great pryennes x German shepherd.
Anya is a Great Pyrenees x Lab/German Shepherd.
Bitsy is a Siamese female cat.
Sylvester is black cat that found his way here.
Alana
From a very young age, Alana has been surrounded by animals with horses playing a huge role in her becoming who she is. Horses have taught her so many wonderful lessons and shared their gifts and wisdom, with the expectation that she would share these gifts to those willing to receive them. Connection to nature, horse wisdom, a lifetime of learning new skills, and combining wellness, wildness and joy, inspired her to offer space for others to experience unique possibilities at Crystal Beach Adventures.
Alana started to train at a very young age. Throughout the intervening time, she developed her own skills while always adding tools from other programs. She competed in a variety of disciplines and with many different breeds.
A close friend once said to Alana “just when I think I have you figured out, you show up wearing weird shoes”, some of the words used to describe her have been hippy, redneck, pixie (apparently we trace back to Pictish folk), gypsy, coach. She is all of that and none of that at the same time. Growing up on a farm, she was a bit Ellie May Clampet, always rescuing a sick or injured animal. She has always gravitated to nature/energy based learning and finds joy in simple smiles. Many times in her own healing she has expressed the wish that more people would benefit from the experiences she sees daily. As we share our joy, it multiples.
As a foundation to horse relationships, the horse Alana won her first trophy at age 4 (16 and under equitation) was Tango. He was given to her mom by her dad and was the offspring of her dad’s favourite mare Lady, and Neil Robbin’ fancy Quarter horse stallion. Tango was super kind to children (her mom would often send Alana to catch him which she did by wrapping her arms around his front legs), less than kind to men (often playing with a bone jarring standardbred trot instead of a floating canter), he was always a halter puller, an amazing cow horse, and a brilliant teacher to generations of people. He was beautiful and big (both in spirit and height). Alana could get on him by herself by age 4 but it was a bit unconventional. After she had moved away to train at a very high end dressage barn, Alana came home for a weekend. Tango was showing his age and Alana wanted to get a last ride with him. Being that she was an “experienced” trainer now, with skills that she didn’t have as a kid, Alana was planning to share these skills with Tango. He tolerated and humoured her for a bit but was soon fed up, and ran away with Alana at a bone jarring trot! Humbled and ego now in check, she apologized, laughed and thanked him for one last lesson from a great horse teacher. Alana appreciates his energy to this day.
Alana doesn’t rest in her current knowledge, believing that there is always more to notice and integrate. She feels privileged to be able to exist in the space of Crystal Beach Adventures with horses and nature mingling and expressing themselves, and always changing to move into each new understanding of the energies within the space.
Comet
Brynarian Eiddwen Comet 1984-July 29 2007
On July 29, 2007, the great Welsh Cob Stallion Brynarian Eiddwen Comet (Llanarth Maldwyn AP Braint x Llanarth Malen) was laid to rest in his paddock under his trees overlooking the riding arena. It marks the end of a great era at Kelly Acres/Cherry Hill Equestrian Centre.
Comet came into our lives in the fall of 1985. We had visited with Tom Davis while on a week long wagon trek, discovered Welsh Cobs after breeding Welsh Ponies since 1966. As it was time for me to move off my Sec A gelding – Kelly Acres Twinkle, we were looking for a special large pony. We found that in Brynarian Nia. Mom and Dad travelled out to BC again in Sept, and while there decided that the gangly, unhandled yearling Comet should make the trip as a future herdsire. The first few months Comet was with us was a real challenge. He was truly afraid of people, and not ready to be civilized yet. However he finally decided that he could tolerate our presence and we soon started to ready him for training. Mom started driving Comet as a 2-year-old, and he loved working! His first career was as a combined driving star. He cleaned up all over Saskatchewan for years as a single driving horse (he was 14.3 ½ HH, so always had to compete as a horse). Mom took him to Ontario for a month in 1991, and the highlight of that trip was highest placing Canadian Single Advanced Horse at the Can Am Driving trials. After that Mom basically only drove occasionally for pleasure. Comet was also broke to ride as a 3-year-old, and was amazing – his extended trot was a work of art! He was however very picky about his riders, and an extremely sensitive horse – hated it when a new rider pushed the wrong buttons! He found dressage very easy, and since we were always up to a challenge, we tried jumping as well – at this he was a rock star! He got me out of some really bad spots that only a young rider can get a horse into. With his amazing work ethic he would always work very well on the flat but he truly came to life when there were jumps in the ring. I remember in 1992 at Spruce Meadows we were invited to do demos for the Welsh, and since we had been working on the flat I hadn’t planned on jumping during the hunter demo. The whole group of breeds was in the ring doing a hunter hack demo, and after doing the rail work, we had the option to take the single 3 foot jump in the middle. As expected, the Warmblood stallion took it with ease. I waited for others to go, but the ground was a bit slick from rain and no one else was going. Finally I thought “well, 3 feet isn’t very big, so what if we haven’t been jumping lately, lets go for it!” I kind of forgot that I had put spurs on (just for correct attire) and when he slowed down a bit on approach, I was worried about a possible refusal and sunk my heels in. Comet, always sensitive and never needing more that very subtle aids, took that as a bit of an insult and basically cleared the standards. There was no mistaking how big he really could jump. Unfortunately Mom stopped the video camera as she thought I was about to get turfed in front of the huge crowd at Spruce Meadows!
As there were very few places that we could actually show at (juniors can’t show stallions at many shows) we did a lot of demos at various venues. Comet was super polite at all public appearances, most people thinking he was a gelding. There wasn’t a better ambassador to the Welsh breed! He loved the attention. I will never forget one occasion at Agribition when a whole bunch of school kids on a tour stopped by our stall. All the kids wanted to pet the beautiful black stallion. One young man held back a bit and waited for the crowd to clear and very politely asked if he too could touch the horse. I said of course and then he told me he was blind and asked if I could guide him. I took him into the stall, and he proceeded to feel Comet all over. Now Comet was always fine with people petting him (haughtily expecting it actually!), but he was always a little careful with people he didn’t know. This time however, he stood like a statue and allowed this young man to discover what a horse looked like through his fingers. Both the boy and I had tears running down our cheeks at the end, him because he got to realize a dream, me because I had witnessed something truly special! This all went on while heavy horse hitches, crowds of people, balloons etc. where going by not 2 feet away. Time seemed to stand still.
Comet was an extremely prepotent stallion, truly stamping his 85 registered offspring with his good looks, and amazing athletic ability. In 1998, Comet, his get or grand-get placed first, second or third in EVERY class entered (sometimes all three!) At the WPCSS All Breed Pony Show. Most of the performance classes had 15-25 entries! In 2003, we were invited to join the Welsh Team for Battle of the Breeds at Spruce Meadows. About a week prior to leaving, my husband Bill and my Mom were both in the hospital with West Nile Virus, and I had a 6 month old son to attend to. Comet stepped up to the plate and helped win a third place ribbon in precision driving (cones) with a tie for the fastest time. That was the first time I had ever driven a cones course! Comet always managed to add that extra bit when it truly counted.
His last public appearance was at Agribition in Nov 2006. Unfortunately his last Cob foal, a beautiful colt (born in 2006) was killed by a cougar at 10 days old. I have retained Mi Bare Essentials (1995 buckskin Sec C stallion) to continue Comet’s stallion duties. Comet got to live the last year of his life with my old pony – Kelly Acres Twinkle, they were best friends. Comet’s offspring are scattered all over North America, continuing to excel in their owners lives. Our family was very lucky to have such a wonderful partner and friend for 22 years! Rest in Peace old man, till we meet again. You will live forever in our hearts and memories.
Cherry Hill Equestrian Centre raising top quality Welsh and Sport Ponies since 1966