May 31, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
100 Mile House, Guest Ranches & Horseback Riding
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A highlight of our trip through the Carbioo region was interacting with the wide array of animals. At the Hills Health Ranch in 108 Mile there are miniature donkeys that are incredibly friendly! They nuzzle and give ‘hugs’ and are surprisingly affectionate. The story of how the original two donkeys Bonnie and Clyde came to the ranch is a great one to ask owner Pat about!
May 20, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
100 Mile House, Guest Ranches & Horseback Riding
Find more information about 100 Mile House - Guest Ranches & Horseback Riding
For years my wife has been trying to convince me to go on a horse riding vacation, but I was always more than a little reluctant to agree because of a couple of bad experiences I had when I was younger. Finally after some coaxing she convinced me to try it out.
I've always had a fondness for the Cariboo after spending a few years as a youth growing up at 92 mile on highway 97. So we did a little research and found Free Rein Guestranch at Bridge Lake, it looked perfect, and it was! When we arrived we received a very warm welcome from our hosts Kathy and Finlay (and of course little Benny their pet dog)and were shown our accomodation for the week, a great little log cabin that was just right for the four of us. I love log cabins and this was perfect, located nicely right in front of the lake with a great porch for just sitting and taking in the view.
If you like birds and bird watching the amount of different birds on the property is unbelievable. Once we were settled in, Debbie (the owner/host/wrangler) and Mervin (the wrangler) wasted no time in getting us familiar with the horses. They carefully chose horses for us that would be compatible with our riding skills (mine being zero!), and had us enter the corral, and approach and harness our own horses. Letting me do this on my own quickly made me realize that horses aren't big scary monsters that are out to kill me, but really amazing animals. Although I wasn't successful at actually catching the horse they had chosen for me, just being among them did me a world of good in getting over my anxieties. They then had us groom the horses to get us comfortable around them and letting them get to know us.
In the evening we all sat together for a homecooked meal and discussed the days events and what we wanted to do during our stay. After dinner we played some snooker and darts and enjoyed getting to know our hosts. The following days and nights were fantastic, consisting of training and horsemanship and some trail rides, some trails were easy and relaxing others were more challenging with steep hills and water crossings. We also tried our hand at barrel racing in the riding arena. Mealtimes and evenings were very enjoyable with great conversation and enjoyable activities. My wife and two children 12 and 14 had an excellent time and didn't want to leave, we actually ended up staying an extra night. All in all I found this trip to be very therapeutic, the best vacation I've ever had and I would highly recommend Free Rein Guest Ranch to everyone! And this is coming from someone who wasn't very fond of horses. The hosts are excellent and make you feel right at home and the surroundings are spectacular. I wish we had had more time to enjoy all of the activities that were available, maybe next time.
May 13, 2009 | Tips from Travellers >
100 Mile House, Guest Ranches & Horseback Riding
Find more information about 100 Mile House - Guest Ranches & Horseback Riding
View a larger image on flickr.com
After a guided hike through The Hills’ boreal forest and rolling meadows typical of the Caribou region, past Sucre Lake and a visit with a Red-Tailed Hawk, we were fortunate enough to experience the property from another perspective, on horseback. Upon arriving at the stables, four of the horses we had previously awed over grazing the property had already been saddled-up for us, fed, and were ready to go!
Bryce and Laura, two of the Hills’ experienced and friendly wranglers, quickly showed us the ropes of basic riding techniques before setting out through the forest and up to a lookout showcasing the beauty of the surrounding area; views of the Ranch, 108 Lake & its community, and the seemingly endless landscape beyond.
Having never ridden horseback before, we joked about my riding the tallest, fastest and least predictable of horses. A beautiful, white beast of a horse named Dawn was appointed to me and Amber rode General, which we later learned to be a born athlete. However regardless of my own inexperience, it turned out to be Bryce who was bucked off when his own horse was mysteriously spooked as he attempted to hop on. A little embarrassed over the endeavor, he calmly “got back on the horse”, adding legitimacy to the age-old adage. Although we were impressed with his composure throughout the incident, Laura simply giggled and reminded him that he now owed her a case of beer as his hat had fallen from his head in the midst of all the madness.