About Us

Spirit Reins Ranch is situated on what was originally a family farm. The Gilbert family acquired the farm in New Prospect, Parrsboro around 1964, and it became a cattle and pig farm for the next 20 years. Today Bill, Karen Gilbert and family continue the legacy with their horse ranch.

Our History

Bill Gilbert grew up on his family farm riding horses and wrangling cows, his first horse King was a paint trick pony. Bill and King had a great partnership from the start! He even took King in the town parade when he was only 7 years old. Bill has the farm way of life in his blood and still works and develops the land that was his childhood home. Bill renewed his love of horses in adulthood and rides his quarter horse Sonny. He has done clinics on cattle penning, western riding and develops his riding skills through lessons and training. Bill is currently the head guide for our trails and he has been called a real cowboy character who is sure to bend your ear with a few tails or a local yarn or two.

Karen Yorke-Gilbert’s first experience around horses was at a young age riding the work horses at her aunt’s farm in the Annapolis Valley. In her youth Karen spent many hours attending races at the Truro Raceway where her uncle raced standardbreds. It wasn’t until she had a family of her own that she became fully involved with and renewed her childhood love of horses. Karen has remained committed to a vision that horses are a learning and growing opportunity for the human spirit. She firmly believes that horses are teachers and healers for people, and are therapy for the soul.

For several years Karen has devoted her time to the development of her own horse ranch in her hometown of Parrsboro. The year 2000 marked the beginning’s of the ranch as it is today. A humble 4 stall barn housed two very special horses, a gentle thoroughbred named Chief (belonging to her daughter) and Karen’s quarter horse Ginger. Today Spirit Reins Ranch has grown to a family of 8+ horses, a large barn with 13 stalls, heated tack room and a large outdoor riding arena.

In order to provide the best quality services and optimal care for the horses Karen has devoted herself to equine education, spending years under the tutelage of top instructors in Western Reining and equitation. She has completed her Level 4 in the Western Rider Equine Canada program. Karen has certificates in Equine Canada Coaching Theory as well as First Aid training, and has recently completed the Equine Canada Trail Guide and Tourism Program. Karen holds an Bachelors Degree with Honours in Psychology from Mount Allison University, Sackville, New Brunswick.

Karen is a current member of the Nova Scotia Equestrian Federation, Equine Canada. She enjoys riding and showing her Canadian mare Willow. She has participated in many shows and competitions in western classes, trail class, reining and cattle sorting and penning.

To learn more about Canada's National Horse, Le Cheval Canadienne, please click on the get involved button below.

Get Involved

Le Cheval Canadien

The Canadian horse is truly the unsung hero of North American horse breeds. The breed’s origins trace to 1665 when the first horses, likely from Normandy and Brittany, were sent to Canada by King Louis XIV of France. Over the next a century, a distinct breed developed from this founding stock. The fittest not only survived, but thrived despite harsh winters, hard work, and scarce feed, earning them the nickname “Le Petit Cheval de Fer” or “The Little Iron Horse.”

A calm and willing disposition, excellent feet, stamina and strength, made it an ideal cavalry horse, and in the 1860s Canadians were sold by thousands to the U.S. Army to fight in the American Civil War. Americans eagerly bought up quality Canadian stallions to improve their own stock, and the Canadian Horse appears the early stud books of the Morgan, Standardbred, and Tennessee Walking Horse breeds. The Canadian Horse was threatened not only by exports, but by crossbreeding. By the close of the 19th century, Canadian officials recognized that the breed was in danger of being lost, and stepped in to develop breed standards and establish the first studbook.

Although these efforts resulted in a resurgence, the reprieve was temporary. Throughout the 1900s, as farms were mechanized, breed numbers diminished to the point to where it was virtually unknown outside of the province of Quebec. By the 1970s, only 400 registered Canadian Horses remained in existence, and less than five registrations were being recorded per year. Since that time, dedicated breeders have worked diligently to save the breed from extinction and to preserve the qualities of type, temperament, and hardiness that made the breed famous throughout North America 150 years ago.

The breed slowly made a comeback, hitting a population high of about 6000 horses in the early 2000s. Unfortunately with the economic downturn of 2008, it once again began dwindling and many larger and long-time breeders retired. Today the number of actively breeding mares is critically low, and only 100-150 new foals have been registered annually in recent years. This makes CHHAPS’ mission more important than ever.

Source: The Canadian Horse Heritage and Preservation Society

https://chhaps.ca/about-the-breed/

Canada's "Little Iron Horse"The Canadian is well known and respected as a pleasure and combined driving horse. It has continued to gain popularity as a recreational and competitive riding horse in both English and Western disciplines. With their sociable, intelligent and adaptable natures, Canadians thrive on variety in their work, from dressage to packing or gathering cattle in the back country. The ideal choice for people who enjoy going new places and learning new things!

Source: The Canadian Horse Heritage & Preservation Society

https://chhaps.ca/about-the-breed/

Edward C. Gilbert

1936 - 2025

Edward C Gilbert was born and raised in the town of Parrsboro, Nova Scotia.

He was known as a local Historian, storyteller and author.

Eddie was a proud member of the Royal Canadian Navy for 6 years, after which he settled in his hometown of Parrsboro. Here he spent most of his life as a family man, dedicated to running a small family farm, a TV repair shop, and later starting his own construction business.

Even after retirement he remained active and committed to his community. He was a prolific author, a gifted speaker, and a talented folk artist, but he enjoyed sharing stories most of all. You would often find him volunteering at the Ottawa House Museum, where he was a “jack of all trades” offering tours, stories, minor repairs, and often buried in historic documents & genealogical papers. Eddie enjoyed meeting new people, traveling, hunting, fishing, and nature. He loved watching the horses in the fields of the family farm. But most of all he enjoyed spending time with his extensive family and friends.

His humility, strength, integrity and generosity are qualities that people admired and were drawn to. He engaged people in conversation wherever he went, and became a cherished friend to any who had the privilege of knowing him. We will never forget the sparkle in his eyes while he captivated an audience with a story or a tall tale, or shamelessly bragged about his dear family. He was an inspiration for his children, grandchildren and his great grandson – all of whom gratefully possess many of his best attributes.. Ed’s memory will live on in the hearts of all who knew him. He was a gentle giant whose stories of the Parrsboro shore community where he grew up, left an indelible and lasting legacy. Edward C Gilbert is the father and father-in-law of owners Karen and Bill Gilbert, who started this farm in 1960, and this section is a tribute to his memory/legacy.

Ed published over 15 books on local culture and history as well as several books of poetry.

Explore Edward C. Gilbert's historical writings on Parrsboro below!

This is the story of Ebeneezer Bishop's daring crossing of the Minas Gut in 1809.

The Minas Basin, with its powerful tides, often fills with broken ice in winter and early spring, driven by westerly winds. This ice presented a barrier between Ebeneezer and his love, Anna Lewis, who lived across the Gut at Partridge Island.

Ebeneezer's Determination: Determined to win Anna's hand in marriage before another suitor could, Ebeneezer saw an opportunity when the Gut was jammed with ice.

The Perilous Crossing: Using only a notched board, he braved the treacherous crossing, leaping from ice floe to ice floe, slipping and falling but always managing to recover. A friend even witnessed his dangerous journey.

He reached Partridge Island and proposed to Anna that very evening. She accepted.

Ebeneezer returned home (a 300km trip) on horseback and married Anna on November 1st of that year.

Ebeneezer is believed to be the only person to have ever crossed the Minas Gut on the ice. This is a story of love, determination, and a risky adventure taken for romance.

By Edward C. Gilbert

The Man on the Black Horse- Dr Abraham Gesner 1797 - 1864

This Is the story of Dr. Abraham Gesner, a remarkable man who lived in Parrsborough Shore between 1827 and 1835. Known as the "Man on the Black Horse," he was a doctor who traveled the area treating settlers, but he was also a passionate scientist and explorer.

Gesner studied the local geology, discovering a wealth of minerals and fossils. He was fascinated by the natural world, including plants and wildlife, and he championed the rights of the native people. He meticulously mapped New Brunswick's minerals and is most famous for extracting oil from Albertite bitumen, a discovery that would later contribute to the fuel used in rockets.

Beyond his scientific pursuits, Gesner was incredibly versatile. He founded a natural history museum, invented wood preserver, asphalt paving, and other useful products. He was a jack-of-all-trades with a wide range of skills and interests, including being a deckhand, horse trader, farmer, geologist, naturalist, chemist, hunter, musician, and public speaker. He even wrote 19 books!

In short, the article highlights the extraordinary life of Dr. Abraham Gesner, a man of diverse talents and passions who made significant contributions to science and technology, leaving a lasting legacy as the "Man on the Black Horse."

It is said that the black horse Dr Gesner rode was likely a Canadian horse. The little known endangered horse is Canada’s national breed of horse and is protected! Called the “Little Iron Horse”, Canadian horses were brought to Canada by the French King Louis VII in 1665, and subsequently bred for specific traits such as resilience, endurance, flexibility and a strong work ethic. This made these horses an excellent choice for our harsh Canadian climate and landscapes.

By Edward C. Gilbert

The Cattle Trail in Greenhill

This story recounts the history of a "Cattle Trail" related to the Mason farm in Greenhill, likely a part of the larger history of the Mason Bluff area in Parrsboro.

In the 1920s, Bill Hobin purchased the Tom Mason property and converted it into a community pasture. Locals who owned cattle but lacked grazing land could pay a small fee to use this pasture. Because the pasture was some distance away, cattle owners would organize drives, typically in the morning, to move their livestock along a route that became known as the "Cattle Trail."

The trail followed Swan Creek Road. Initially, the cattle drivers would need to pass several farms, but once beyond those, they would drive the herd along the road. Someone would go ahead to block traffic and direct the cattle onto a side road leading to the Mason farm. Hobin or his hired hand, Albert Anderson, would open the gate to allow the cattle into the pasture. Anderson was responsible for maintaining the fences and ensuring access to water.

In the fall, the cattle were driven back along the same route to be sorted and retrieved by their owners. Years later, Ned Gilbert, this author’s father utilized a portion of the Mason farm as a community pasture. However, by this time, trucking cattle had become more convenient than driving them, even though the Swan Creek Road remained open. The "Cattle Trail" gradually fell out of regular use and by the 1960s, it was too overgrown to be passable, except for recreational use.

This story chronicles a period when local farmers collaborated to share grazing land and established a traditional route to move their cattle, highlighting a facet of rural life and cooperation in the area's history.

By Edward C. Gilbert

The History of Swan Creek Cove

Swan Creek was a busy place back in the day!

Trading Post Days: Long ago, it was a spot where locals and Native Americans traded goods. They even had a trail connecting it to a major road out of Parrsboro. But, people eventually left for better farmland.

Clam Factory: Later on, a factory opened up to process clams. It operated for several years, and even decades later, you could still see the burned remains. People called the area "The Clam Factory Field."

Rum Runners: Swan Creek also had a reputation for smuggling rum! They'd hide the booze in the woods or bury it until it was safe to move. One hiding spot was called the "Rum Cellar." The rum would then be taken to nearby towns and cities as far as Halifax and Boston.

Gypsum Shipping: A wharf was built to load gypsum (a mineral) onto a boat called the Walleda, which would take it to New York. A local family, the Taggarts, might have owned the land at that time. Local captains and workers were involved in this operation.

So, Swan Creek went from a trading post to a clam processing site, a haven for smugglers, and a shipping point for minerals. It had a varied and interesting past!

By Edward C. Gilbert

The Story of Eagle Island

The history of a small island, located in The Minas Basin, a coastal area in Nova Scotia. It was called Eagle Island due to the presence of eagles.

The island, one of two islands located west of Parrsboro in the Minas Basin, was named Eagle Island because eagles were often shot in the past, and the island provided a suitable habitat for the eagles to take refuge.

In the early 1930s, permission was granted to log the island.

While accessible by men, the terrain was too steep for horses to transport logs.

Innovative Solution: To overcome this, a system of pulleys was set up to hoist a horse and its feed (hay and oats) to the upper area where the logging was taking place. A makeshift stable (known as a "hovel") was built for the horse.

Logs were dragged ("yarded") to the shoreline and rolled into the water during high tide. They were then formed into rafts and towed to the shore by boat.

The horse remained on the island until all the timber was harvested. It was then lowered to the beach and taken off the island.The island was never logged again after this operation.

Despite the logging, the island still has a resident population of eagles.

In essence, this tells a story about the ingenuity and effort required for a logging operation on a remote island, highlighting the unique method of bringing a horse to the island and the importance of logging and lumber to the local community of Parrsboro.

By Edward C. Gilbert

The Monster Bear on Glasgow Mountain

This story is about a massive black bear that terrorized the area around Glasgow Mountain in the late 1800s.

The Threat: A huge bear raided farms, attacking livestock and causing significant hardship for the pioneers. Traditional hunting methods failed as the bear was too powerful and elusive.

Solution: A farmer devised a plan using two modern shotguns loaded with ball shot (instead of smaller SSG shot that wouldn't penetrate the bear's thick fur). He set a trap and eventually killed the bear.

The Legend: The bear was so large that it was written about in the local newspaper. It was rumored to weigh a thousand pounds, though this was likely an exaggeration. Nonetheless, it was considered the largest bear anyone in the area had ever seen.

The story highlights the challenges faced by early settlers and the extraordinary size and strength of the bear that became a local legend.

By Edward C. Gilbert

Sheep Stealer

This is a story about a bear that earned the moniker "Sheep Stealer." Burt Parker, who owned property near the Greenhill schoolhouse, kept a flock of sheep in a barn pen. A black bear broke into the pen twice, killing and taking sheep.

After the second incident, Parker, with the advice of his neighbors, devised a trap. He built an alleyway leading into the pen and strategically placed a loaded 12-gauge shotgun aimed at the doorway. He then rigged a tripwire connected to the trigger across the entrance.

That night, the bear returned, triggering the shotgun as it entered. The blast of buckshot killed the bear instantly. Parker's sheep were unharmed, and he acquired a bearskin robe as a result. The tale highlights the ingenuity and resourcefulness of rural farmers protecting their livestock from wildlife.

By Edward C. Gilbert

The Tragedy of the Enterprise

The article tells the tragic story of the schooner "Enterprise." Built in Board Landing, the 50-ton, two-masted schooner set sail for Windsor, Nova Scotia, captained by Thurston Terris's 20-year-old son with a Norwegian deckhand.

In Windsor, they picked up three passengers headed for Parrsboro: John Hawes, Albert Jeffers, and young Dave Trahey. Leaving Windsor with a strong wind, the poorly ballasted ship quickly ran into trouble and capsized. The lifeboat also overturned during their attempt to launch it.

Driven by a southwest wind, the "Enterprise" was pushed ashore onto the Clarke Head bar. Tragically, only Dave Trahey's body was found, frozen on the beach west of Clarke Head. He was buried in Parrsboro. The other men were lost at sea, likely carried away by the strong currents of the Bay of Fundy.

Despite being salvaged and repaired, the "Enterprise" was later involved in another capsize and deemed a "jinxed" ship. The tragedy resulted in the loss of multiple lives and left a lasting mark on the community.

By Edward C. Gilbert

The Fishing Weirs at The Point

This story describes the history and impact of fishing weirs in the Minas Basin, specifically at a location known as "The Point" near Swan Creek Cove. Early weirs were constructed with natural materials like hackmatack stakes, birch poles, and evergreen boughs, effectively trapping various fish species including herring, gaspereau, tommycod, flounder, salmon, mackerel, striped bass, cod, pollock, halibut, sturgeon, skates, and dogfish.

The weirs were highly productive, providing abundant fish for local families. The author recounts stories of his father's family using the weirs and the immense quantities of fish they caught. However, over time, overfishing led to a decline in fish populations. The introduction of draggers in the 1960s exacerbated the problem, further decimating fish stocks and even leading to the disappearance of some species. Ironically, the destruction caused by the draggers created a boom in the lobster population, as they eliminated the fish that preyed on young lobsters. This shift marked the beginning of a new era in the local fishing industry, focused on lobsters rather than the diverse fish previously caught in the weirs.

By Edward C Gilbert

The Story of Yorke Settlement and the Pet Bear

This story recounts the history of Yorke Settlement and a humorous anecdote about one of its settlers, Alfred Vickery, and his pet bear.

The area was originally called Diligent River, named by Governor John Parr, recognizing the hard work of early settlers like Lt. Eleazer Taylor, Sam Wilson, and Robert Salter. Taylor sold the land to the Cannings, who then sold it to the Yorkes and Vickerys. Due to the large number of Yorkes, it became known as Yorke Settlement.

Later, the Warrens arrived, and a young Alfred Vickery settled in the undeveloped northern part of the area, clearing land and building a home for his wife and family.

Alfred Vickery acquired a young bear, possibly finding it in its den. Besides being a threat, bears were also a valuable resource for food, fat, and fur. He trained the bear to pull like a horse.

One spring day, needing firewood but without his horse (which was working at a lumber camp), Alfred used his trained bear to haul wood.

The bear, roused from a nap, was grumpy and resistant. Alfred struggled to get him back into the harness and on the trail home. Upon arriving home, Alfred discovered the reason for the bear's reluctance: his actual trained bear was asleep under the back steps! He had mistakenly wrestled the wrong bear from its nap!

The story highlights the daily life and resourcefulness of early settlers and provides a funny tale about Alfred Vickery's mishap with the wrong bear.

By Edward C. Gilbert

Meet Our Guides

Sophie

Hi, I'm Sophie. I started as a trail guide for Spirit Reins Ranch in the summer of 2023. I love helping out with horse camps and tasks around the ranch. You can often find me at the barn most days grooming my horse Levi, riding in the arena, or out on a trail ride. I plan to expand my knowledge in both English and Western disciplines with a goal of owning a horse farm of my own one day.

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Vivian

My name is Vivian. I have been riding since I was 6 years old. I have been with Spirit Reins Ranch for over 10 years. I absolutely love it. I have my own horse named Lana. My favourite thing to do is trail riding and skiing. We are so fortunate to have such beautiful places here in our home province of Nova Scotia. Come join us in an unforgettable experience! Can't wait to meet you!

Brianna

Hey! My name is Brianna. I have been riding since I was 8 years old. I have been with Spirit Reins Ranch since 2023 and I absolutely love it. I have a horse of my own, Frankie who I show competitively around NS. I will be attending Dalhousie Agricultural college in the Fall of 2026. I’m so thankful for the opportunity I’ve been given at the ranch, to work alongside my favourite animals! Our rides are such unique experiences and we would love to meet you!

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Faith

My name is Faith. I have been riding horses since i was 3 years old. I love all kinds of animals. I have a horse named Cowboy and two bunnies named DW and Arthur. This is my fourth year with the Spirit Reins Ranch family. I have formed a special bond with Spirit and have journeyed along with him in his training. I am studying at Dalhousie Agricultural college to become a Veterinary Technician. I am excited to ride with you this year!

Macy

We are very pleased to have Macy join our Spirit Reins Ranch family. Macy is a long time rider and horse owner. She is 4H member and competes in various disciplines. One of her biggest loves is barrel racing. Macy started in the fall of 2024.She will be joining our guides, Bri and Sophie, on trail rides, helping around the barn, and running the summer camps.
Welcome aboard Macy!

Meet Our Horses

Learn more about the horses of Spirit Reins Ranch. Click on the photo of a horse to find out more about them!

In Memory

We began with just one horse, a thoroughbred named Chief that our daughter Sarah saved up for months to buy, then I got Ginger, a quarter horse mare… the rest as they say, is history. Although Chief and Ginger are no longer with us they embody the spirit of our farm, a place where people and animals can come together to build trusting relationships and confidence.

Animals speak to our souls and here at Spirit Reins Ranch we truly cherish our pets, all our animals are considered family and we made this page to preserve their memory.

-Karen Yorke Gilbert