Donegal Farm is a smaller and more private stable. However, the staff is always pleased to take out couples, small groups, and individual riders up the mountain. Equestrian Coach and Island Times contributor, Dona Naylor is a Certified Level 1 coach with Equine Canada and has taught for almost 20 years. Dona believes in enjoying all aspects of horses including dressage, jumping, and trail excursions. She is the coach at Donegal Farm. It is at the farm where Dona teaches lessons and takes out trail rides and hosts a few small summer camps.

One visit out to Donegal and one’s first impression is that the farm is peaceful and the horses there are happy. Freedom is rule number one as you head up the mountain paths with no time constraints. It is possible to ride to Arrowsmith Lake which is the headwaters of Englishman’s River (also the source of the regions water supply), or Rowbotham Lake is also a possibility. You could ride to Victoria if you really wanted.

The paths weave through salal, ferns, and vanilla-leafed undergrowth as the horses step over roots and wind between evergreens, maple trees, and alder. There is a large wildlife tree that is between 300 and 400 years old. As for views, you can usually detect snow on Mount Arrowsmith ahead, and the panoramic view of forest and ocean behind. It is the views that truly showcase Vancouver Island’s diversity in nature.

The spring season is a lovely time to hit the trails to find wildflowers, bleeding hearts, violets, chocolate lilies, starflowers to name only a few. Each season has its own special features. Riding through the forest is cool in summer and shuffling through autumn leaves is exhilarating.

The horses love to get out on the trails also. Crossing creeks and jumping over logs makes sense to them in ways that 20-metre circles in dressage simply do not. A jumping course set up in the ring is not as much fun for the horse as a series of fallen logs. They enjoy each step as much as the rider.

“I don’t worry about bears as I have met them several times; they check me out and then ramble off,” Dona says of the dangers of running into other animals on the trails. One time, Dona spotted a cougar that (lucky for her!) vanished immediately, and a wolf pack circled once, but her horse got them out of there quickly.

“I love to meet Elk and follow their hoof prints and know where they hang out. The animals are there; I respect them, and let them know I am coming,” she says.
Just in case the animals do get too close, Dona is always armed with a wolf whistle and pepper spray. “It is only good up to a very short distance anyway,” she cautions, adding that the wild animals are simply a part of the ride.

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