Higher Trails Equine Center

Did someone say the food truck was here?

The tractor dance.

Brought in 120 rounds today. Another 120 tomorrow. Great team work at Higher Trails. This was just the first load stacked

Some of our horses relaxing in the sun. Bit of social distancing until some yells "lets gallop". Then the whole herd gathers and rips across the pasture.

A beautiful morning at Higher Trails. Horses love to hear the tractor. Means hay is coming. Once they get a bite to eat then down for a drink. Next a nap in the new hay.

In a world that is running on fear, lets take a minute to look at the beauty around us We just had a big snowfall and everything is so clean and fresh. Bird feeder full with lots for our feathered friends to eat. Hay out for horses and driveway plowed. Time to breathe and say thank you to those working hard to keep us healthy and safe.

Daylight Saving Time starts March 8th. That means some evening training. Got to get the arena plowed!!

What do you do when moose come every day, eat in your hay yard, stare at you over the fence? You just gotta shake it off.

Getting ready for warmer weather. Adding a porch to the stable. Before we know it summer will be here. Sit on the porch. Watch horses and riders in the round pen. Soak up some rays!!

Equine Assisted Learning is all about what horses have to teach us, to help us overcome obstacles, past traumas, get moving forward. EAL Canada has courses across Canada that teach Equine Assisted Personal Development (EAPD) Coaches to help others discover what the horse wants to teach us. Check their website for the 2020 Calendar. www.ealcanada.com Courses this year in Nova Scotia, Ontario, Alberta and B.C.

After a deep freeze couple of weeks, a chinook arch and above zero weather. One of our riders captured this great picture of the horses out enjoying the weather.

We are so blessed to have gasoline and diesel for our personal and ranch vehicles, to have natural gas heating our house and barn, and electricity to have lights, plug in our vehicles. Yes it is cold -43 this morning, but we got our hay out because of the gas and oil workers. Thanks to each and everyone of them.

Santa made a visit to Higher Trails. Arrived in style behind the tractor! Spent time with people then visited the horses. Thanks for stopping by Santa.

We have a new website! Check it out www.highertrails.ca

A fall storm at Higher Trails this weekend, lots of snow. We delivered hay to the horses yesterday as they hid in the trees. Today, they were all anxious to come down to the barn. Just the old guys had the privilege of barn time and extra grain.

Fun night of line dancing. Pretty good for second attempt.

A walk around Higher Trails as the summer comes to an end. We certainly have a little piece of heaven here.

Its called tractor ballet. Bringing in 176 rounds. Just one more load of 40 to come as the sun sets.

Riding in the creek. Great way to cool down.

Some videos of the push me pull me.

We love creating new and fun things for our horses and riders. The most recent project was a "push me pull me" made out of plastic barrels. The horses were introduced to it for the first time last Wednesday, and by the end of the evening we had horses that would push it and ones that would pull it. Amazing to watch them process it and take on the challenge. Even our barn cats checked it out.

Higher Trails has had a Young Rider program for 15 years. This past Sunday a number of our recent "graduates" came back to spend time with some of the current Young Riders. Amazing to hear how these young people are taking such diverse courses at University, SAIT, and those still in school doing volunteer work, immersed in music, art, etc. So proud of all of them. Of course the visit included a group ride and a wiener roast around the fire, sharing their memories. Think another get together is in the plans.

During the evening "herd Check", discovered we had an extra member! So... did some ground work in the outdoor arena. Fantastic free-jumping. Cleared 1.6 meter with perfect form!

First was rain, then a rainbow, then came hail followed by mist. So beautiful the horses moving in the cloud.

Our new round-pen! The entire pen was built from recycled, re-purposed or reclaimed material. Posts and rails are from the old HT ranch. Lower "kick boards" are 2 X 12s from a scaffolding company. Entrance posts and lintel are old hydro poles. Gate is from the old fence in the Caddie pasture. Hinges are from the 1920s corral near the waterer. Footing is a mix of sand, dirt, old compost and 40 yards of poplar/spruce chips from Fortus Alberta as they cleared the trees for the new power line up to the neighbors. (And its not your usual size. Its almost 80 ft. in diameter, as we needed the extra size for the different workshops and training we do). A huge thank-you to the volunteers and riders who put it all together.

One of our senior reining horses - Trigger - was a bit under the weather. He has a slight heart murmur (hes 31) that tires him out, and needed to take a break for a bit. Dee stayed with him until he felt a bit better. Ranch Mama!

When the sky clears after several days of rain, I grab some rays on the lawn. Just need a glass of iced tea and a good book.

Our 26-year-old "Reining Queen" - Zoe - has wintered well!

We have beautiful birds at Higher Trails too. Enjoying breakfast after a bit of snow last night.

What do you do when you get a winter weather advisory? PLAY!!!!

At Higher Trails we have a wise horse named Caddie. He even wrote his own book "I am Cadillac". #ramacinnesauthor He can also predict the weather - sometimes better then the weather forecasters. He told us two more snowfalls this spring. First one started yesterday and it still continues. Just one more snow fall to go!

Nothing like a visit from a herd of cattle to create some excitement at Higher Trails. They came into our hay yard, so we closed the gates, tacked up the horses. Those horses left behind werent sure what was going on. After reporting it to the RCMP, we moved the cows back up the road where they they had come from.

When the snow melts and the water puddles, what do you do? Fish of course. It is drying up quickly though - love the warm weather

Monday we shared how to stretch before starting your day. Today is the first day of Spring so time to kick up your heals and get ready for warm weather ahead!

Happy Monday - nothing like a morning stretch to get you going!

Hes "JUST" a Trail Horse** I cant count the number of times that I have heard the words "Oh you just trail ride" or "Its just a trail horse", especially from... other riders who focus on only one discipline. And each time I have to smirk a little. To be JUST a Trail Rider you need a very special talented kind of steed for which many folks dont realize the expertise required: - He needs to be as maneuverable as a Dressage Horse...to be able to place each foot exactly where and when you need because there is a steep cliff drop-off on one side and a wall of solid mountainside on the other. A sure-footed horse is a must to be a good Trail horse. -He needs to be as bold as a Foxhunter....to go willingly where he is pointed, whether that is over a log, up a steep hill, down a gully, through rushing water, boot-sucking mud or bushwhacking through thick scrub. -He needs to be as agile as a Show Jumper....able to easily twist and turn around trees and bushes, boulders and hop over fallen logs. -He needs to have the stamina of an Endurance Horse....because a 7 mile ride can easily turn into a 20 mile ride if his "on-board GPS" (aka rider) takes a wrong turn. -He needs to have the calm mind of a Rodeo Pick-Up Horse....because many horses can not hold it together under stress. But a good Trail Horse must be able to cope with the high emotional energy often coming from other horses in front, behind and either side of her. He needs to always be level-headed and sensible. -He needs to manage being squashed against others like a Polo Pony....because on some trails his nose might be pushed against a tail in front, or flanks pressed side-by-side with riders knees banging against other riders knees, or another horse breathing down his back. He needs to have patience and get along well with others. -He needs to cope with bursts of speed like a Racehorse.....because if that "on-board GPS" (aka rider), stated above, turns the short ride into 20 miles you wont get home till dark if walking that whole distance. -He needs to be a clever problem-solver with his mind and feet like a Cutting horse....sometimes his rider is gonna get him stuck in places that seem impossible to get out of! -He needs to be brave like a Cow Horse because not only will he have to deal with protective mama cows and bulls out on the trails, but hell also be faced with mountain bikes, ATVs, motorcycles, strollers, tractors, logging equipment, chainsaws, horse-drawn carts, bullet-riddled appliances, floating plastic bags and balloons, booming thunder and pouring rain with flapping slickers, loose wild horses and burros, and all forms of wildlife. -And he needs to be cuddly and sweet like a Childs Pony....because he will spend countless hours exploring trails with his rider. But hey.... Hes "JUST" a Trail Horse!~*~ ****Author unknown ****