Hatfield Farm Sleigh Rides - Hammonds Plains, NS

Like many people, I find the winter months really hard. Short days, long cold nights and a general grey to everything leaves me feeling pretty drained. This winter, we combated the winter blues with lots of outdoor activities. I learned to snowshoe, had some fun winter hikes, started running regardless of weather and took in some of our great provincial and national parks.

We visited Hatfield Farm back in February for their weekly open sleigh ride, bull riding and all-you-can-eat hotdogs. It was a full family event – me, Drew and Charlie. We were accompanied by 10 other families, all with kids eager to meet the animals in the petting zoo and go for a horse drawn sleigh ride through the snow.

Hatfield Farm really is the perfect family activity, but Drew and I had just as much fun as the kids. We spent the sleigh ride playing “Spot Pepper” (the resident farm dog) who would quickly dash ahead of the wagon, then into the woods, then rush the wagon steps at the back sometimes leaping onto the wagon, other times racing right by.

Hatfield Farm Horses in a Field in Winter

Sleigh Rides and Cozy Campfires at Hatfield Farm

Fort Clayton is built to resemble the frontier times. Unlike many of the frontier themed parks I have visited, Hatfield has managed to avoid looking kitschy. We felt like we were in a well-preserved, abandoned frontier town. We wandered around taking in the sights, while the kids rushed right past, not wanting to waste a second of time in the ‘Rubber Rodeo”.

After looking around we went into the “Rubber Rodeo”, a large heated barn filled with blow-up toys, a padded sparring arena and a mechanical bull. Drew was the first person to step up to the plate and made it through the first two settings, followed by a child no older than 5 who successfully made it through all settings. He made it look WAY easier than it is. My round was not quite as graceful…

When the weather gets warmer Hatfield Farm trades in Sleighrides for Wagonrides. They also have fun events year-round. In February, they hold a Valentines Day dinner with homestyle cooking – beef, apple pie, ice cream, campfires and sleigh rides!