Saddling up to join dozens of others on horseback has become a summer highlight for a few dozen horsemen and women.
The Friends of the Bar U Ranch has been inviting the public on trail rides through land that was once part of the historic Bar U Ranch for more than a decade, giving participants the option of riding their own horses or enjoying the comforts of one of the park’s horse-drawn wagons.
This year’s trail ride takes place at the D Ranch just west of the Bar U starting at 10 a.m. on Aug. 5. Registration is at 9 a.m.
“They are up close with nature and they get to see parts of Alberta that they normally don’t get to,” said Karen Ritchie, trail ride chairperson and member of the Friends of the Bar U board of directors. “You go back into some parts of the country that don’t have power lines and roads. It’s the way it was 100 years ago.”
Ritchie said a local rancher opens up land for the ride each year.
Among them is Rose Dayment, whose family owns a ranch just west of Longview. Rose had been ranching for more than 50 years.
The Dayments not only hosted the trail ride in the past, but Rose joined her son and granddaughter on some of the trail rides on nearby ranches.
“It gave me the opportunity to see some of the neighbouring countryside that I normally would never have ridden on,” said Dayment. “It’s beautiful country and it’s a great time to socialize with people and see wildflowers and lovely grasslands.”
Dayment said she enjoys the slow pace of the trail ride and the opportunity to ride on land near her own ranch.
“Whoever hosts it will quite often give a very informative talk on the grasslands and agriculture,” she said. “It’s been very pleasant to be able to have people that are in agriculture go along as well and be able to relay this information. It’s a pleasure for us and I think it’s a pleasure for the people who hear it.”
Dayment has enjoyed the experience both on horseback and in the comfort of the horse-drawn wagon.
“It’s a lovely opportunity to see some open spaces and beautiful native flowers and grasses,” she said.
The Bar U Ranch trail ride welcomes a maximum of 14 people in the wagon and 60 riders, who make their way through ranch land for a couple of hours before stopping for a picnic lunch and heading back, said Ritchie.
It’s considered an intimate trail ride compared to many, she said.
“Some of the trail rides can have so many horses it’s a little overwhelming, but this is a nice little ride,” she said. “It’s nice for people that don’t get in the backcountry or are not able to ride.”
Riders come from as far away as northern Alberta and British Columbia to join the Bar U Ranch trail ride, said Ritchie.
“It is something that people watch for, once they’ve gone,” she said. “It really connects you with nature. You’re going down the trails that the cattle go on and crossing the same streams the cows cross.”
During most trail rides, the host ranch owner or manager will give a talk on the history of the land and the ranch itself, Ritchie said.
The experience also allows riders to enjoy the camaraderie of being on a trail ride, she said, adding she’s been on three trail rides and will join this weekend’s event.
“It’s intimate and you can ride along and talk to most of the people,” she said. “This is a nice calm environment for a trail ride. It’s beautiful views.”
The cost to join the trail ride is $70, which includes lunch.
To participate, register before 5 p.m. on Aug. 2 by calling 403-395-3330.
