Riding the Range
The Canadian prairie provinces are a trail riding Mecca.
Miles of open country, either ranch land, community pastures or park
land are available to riders with little exception. "You can ride
all day and not see another soul. No garbage, very clean and lots of
wild life such as deer, elk and coyotes," raves endurance rider
Prue Critchley of Hamiota, MB. "We have twelve Competitive Trail
and Endurance rides in the province and can ride from May to September."
The only problem she has encountered in her rides is the occasional
bit of flooding. When the rivers run high, some of the usual routes
have detours. If there has been a lot of snow and/or rain, it can be
muddy in her area, "but then we haul out and go elsewhere,"
she says.
Riders have a good and long-standing relationship with the parks in
both Manitoba and Saskatchewan. The Distance Riders of Manitoba make
sure to donate money to the parks when they organize some of their larger
rides and open discussions with the parks' management are ongoing. Part
of the River Ride near Swift Current Saskatchewan, organized by Bert
Sutherland of the Saskatchewan Long Riders, takes place in Saskatchewan
Landing Provincial Park. "The first year's approval of the River
Ride was conditional upon minimal damage," says Bert. Upon examination
of the route used by the ride, the park's management found no trace
of the horses' passage. "Even though most of the horses are shod,
the ground is protected by the prairie grasses. We also chose some existing
game trails to use and therefore they couldn't even tell that we'd been
there." Park management easily renewed approval for the next year's
ride and set aside a fenced enclosure for the base camp and provided
outhouses. "Grasslands National Park also encourages trail riding
with established camps for riders to use on overnight trips," notes
Bert.
A close association with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine
also benefits the organizers of rides in Saskatchewan as the college
provides staff and research findings for the rides and the rides provide
donations for the WCVM's Equine Fund and experience for the students.
The relationship appeals to landowners and park managers who are assured
of the good treatment of the horses used in the rides.
A recent backlash against motorized vehicles due to the damage they
cause to the grassy terrain has also assisted trail riders. For example,
land recently purchased from the province by the One Arrow First Nations
of Saskatchewan has been closed to motorcycles and ATVs. That area of
the Nisbett Forest is still open to "ecologically sound" horses,
however. Only in very heavily used areas are there some restrictions.
In the Cypress Hills of Saskatchewan a policy is being developed that
riders must bring in their own rations in a processed form (pellets
or cubes) to prevent the seeding of foreign plants.
On privately owned ranch land and community pastures (grazing land leased
by ranchers from the province) there are very few fences and fewer roads.
The gates are all accessible to riders and, with landowner permission,
riders can "explore for miles without getting lost," says
Bert. "The truck trails made by the ranchers provide a baseline
so that you can always find your way back."
Riders from outside of the Prairies may be surprised at the variety
of terrain available. The Souris Valley Ride in Manitoba is quite challenging
says Prue Critchley. "It is rocky and goes up and down the river
valley. In the Spruce Woods Ride there are sandy trails and steep hills.
Sometimes the horses are up to their hocks in sand." Bert Sutherland
concurs. "Saskatchewan is not flat. We have the Great Sandhills,
a unique ecological area abundant with wildlife and the Cypress Hills
are our prairie 'mountains'. Along the South Saskatchewan River there
are over 200 miles of river that can be ridden with landowners' permission
and the Northern Provincial Forests have many lakes." "For
anyone who thinks the prairies are flat," states Prue, "they
should come out here and see for themselves!
Other Horseman articles Archives
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"You can ride all day and
not see another soul. No garbage, very clean and lots of wild
life such as deer, elk and coyotes," raves endurance rider
Prue Critchley of Hamiota, MB
Riders
from outside of the Prairies may be surprised at the variety
of terrain available. "Saskatchewan
is not flat. We have the Great Sandhills, a unique ecological
area abundant with wildlife and the Cypress Hills are our prairie
"mountains" |
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