Saddle Up For a Great Time!
Image Courtesy of Anchor D
Image Courtesy of Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies
Image Courtesy of Andrew Penner
The trail rider guides, or outfitters, trace their origins back to the
guide. In some ways they wrangle both horses and people and
old authentic western cowboy traditions. Back then, cowboys
focus on helping riders realize a once in a lifetime “bucket list”
would saddle up for weeks at a time rounding up cattle in the
adventure. This is no small feat.
open lands of the vast wilderness of the Rockies. Today we can conjure up iconic images of free-spirited riders, crude camp-
Southern Alberta is blessed with some of the best outfitters
sites, and guitar playing around a campfire with horses quietly
in the country, catering to the inner cowboys and cowgirls in
listening in the background.
all of us. Their offering includes a wide variety of services from single riding lessons, to day-rides, stay on the ranch vacation
Trail guides today have a gentler lifestyle, but their job is no less
experiences, to multi-day backcountry adventures. Many of
challenging. Calm, resourceful and with witty self-deprecating
the outfitters are located on the eastern slopes of the Rockies
humour, they have an extraordinary skill set that comes from
a short drive from Calgary. Their backdrops are outstanding
years of training come the rain, snow or shine. First, they are
vistas of rolling lands, intense blue sky, and snowy peaks; the
wranglers, meaning that they are expert horse handlers. Then,
stuff movies are made of. The outfitters’ no-nonsense approach
as accomplished riders, they will have spent an inordinate
means they tailor their services to meet your individual needs
amount of time outdoors becoming intimate with the land,
or that of your group whenever they can. Just give them a call.
the wildlife, and the backcountry lifestyle, caring for horse and campers alike. Add to it the aptitude to host clients from all
While hiking the foothills of the Canadian Rockies is an amazing
walks of life and skill levels, and you have yourself a trail rider
experience, doing it on horseback allows you to see, smell and
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