Trail riding Canada - BC/Alberta

[Jojo2go]

Love all this info! We’re quite into the showing scene here (livestock not horses … although both ponies have finally made their showing debut this month ) so very keen to go to the winter fair and see how it’s done somewhere else!

The livestock show is pretty amazing from what I recall. I didn't go that way last time I was there, but I recall seeing some amazing cattle. It's the place to be for Eastern Canada as far as cattle go. I tend to stay away from sheep though, brings back bad memories of one of my horses spitting out wool when my father had sheep. Good times...not.

Be forewarned that you will likely see fine harness Hackney ponies and possibly the Road horse classes. Both might be a shock to your system. The Road Horses are usually former Standardbred trotters. I love watching them, but have since I was a young one. Drive On is the wildest part of the class.

 

[Boughtabay]

I loved going to see the whole thing as a kid - so much learning as well. The horse show part is IMO far larger than what Olympia was and the Horse Palace is something else (both times I was there was stabled on the upper deck and beside the international showjumpers). It used to be an "annual tradition" to go to the RAWF

Ooooh very much looking forward to this now, might have to take a few empty suitcases for horsey shopping??

 

[Boughtabay]

Bringing this back if that’s ok - we’re possibly going to go a bit earlier and do either rafter 6 or anchor d on the Calgary end of the trip just before their seasons close (and miss the winter fair in Toronto). Do we know of any decent set ups at the Vancouver/whistler end or around kelowna/kamloops? and possibly on top of that i might be interested in maybe a western riding lesson if anyone knows of any/where to find decent lesson barns? Fancy myself as a barrel racer (I kid) TIA

 

[Chucho]

A bit late to the party, but Moose Mountain (packtrips.ca) are 15 mins from us and do lovely rides into the Elbow Valley. I believe the owner is a German ex dressage rider and they have a good reputation locally.

The only BC ranch rides we have done were in the Cariboo at Big Bar Guest Ranch: https://bbgr.ca/ It is a bit of a detour but very well worth it for getting away from everything (and everyone!). We stayed on the ranch and did a couple of day rides. Everything is provided on site.

If going BC to Alberta, you could take Highway 5 via Clearwater and Wells Gray Provincial Park (another worthwhile detour!) and driving down the Icefields Parkway (Highway 93) from Jasper. I wouldn't recommend stopping in Jasper town itself, but you should be able to drive through from Valemount to the Icefields centre. Although expect a lot of polluted air in the fire zone (see https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/jasper/visit/feu-alert-fire/feudeforet-wildfire). Latest info on what is open in JNP is on the Parks Canada website: https://parks.canada.ca/pn-np/ab/jasper/visit/ouvert-fermee-open-closed. Or obviously Highway 1 is awesome for views and crossing multiple mountain ranges.

Hope that helps.