North Ridge Ranch
1823 Williamsport Road P1H 2J4 Huntsville, ON, Canada

On January 5th brothers Tuck & Timber celebrated their 5th birthdays

The truth is: This storm is real and it effects us all! Today Brad & I where having a kitchen conversation about plans B through D for North Ridge Ranch this winter...with online learning in effect, little Brea ears are always listening....as a result our 6yr old daughter brought us her 3 piggy banks...this dissolved me. Crushed by the reality of her reality and floored by her kindness and desire to help Children are not meant to feel inclined to support their family finan...cially when they are this young....that is a responsibility for way later.... People want us to share our realities with government to help the decision makers feel/understand the impacts of their decisions on the level of its citizens...well there you have it. The smile on my face reflects the moment - outdoors, dogsledding with my daughter...unfortunately I don't always wear this smile these days. This is not a sympathy post it is a reality check. Covid-19 is slowly breaking us all down and we need real change, real fast! Do your part to stop the spread and hold your government accountable for the decisions they make. See more

Meet VILLAN! This little man is always on the go! A fun-loving , rather vocal pup that prefers to be surrounded by his siblings and mama. With strides like those this guy should be quite the force.

This is McCoy. He is incredibly handsome and very photogenic. This is his face of calm-patience. I am striving to be more like McCoy, but these days are certainly testing my boundaries and ability to remain centered during times that feel chaotic and unbalanced. The newest announcement from the provincial government has us frassled once again.....there is a clear disconnect between logical understanding and decision making in our province and it is greatly affecting us a...ll - particularly small, winter-based tourism operators. We fully understand and respect that Covid-19 is serious and numbers are going up more then they are going down, we also have the perspective that an entire province should not suffer due to a percentage of the population that will not wear masks, socially distance, use sanitizer or keep their "bubbles" small. Those are the 4 factors that will assist us in dealing with this public health crisis until the vaccine is available to the masses (that choose to take it)....not the broad shut down of small business across the province that can and will comply with health unit standards. The playing field is certainly in the favour of the "big" rollers as they continue to remain open with their large capacity numbers, while under paying their "essential" workers and watching their bank accounts sky rocket with record breaking income.... We don't want to or need to set records for income, but we do need income, because a source of income is "essential" in our society to maintain a sustainable & safe existance for ourselves and those that depend on us ( most notably our daughter and large family of dogs) . Please note that we continue to operate in "overdrive" as we continuously reach out to all levels of government, various ministries, tourism partners/advocates and our public health units to try and have them understand that what we do is and can be done safely and sustainably while we combat and contain Covid-19. Our economy doesn't have to crash and burn nor does it need to soar, it just needs to operate properly during these times so that no sector is stressed beyond recovery. We thank all our customers that have been patient and understanding with us throughtout this process, it is not easy for anyone. We will continue to work through our reservation list, emails and phone calls to connect with everyone moving forward about options. Our reservation system is now closed till Feb 11 2021 as a result of the Provincial State of Emergency Declaration.

The beat goes on.....training runs in January....never thought this would ever happen....but here we are On the upside it is a ton of fun!

Proud North Ridge Ranch 1st right here! 6yr old Brea took her own 2 dog team for a 5km training run! It wasn't flawless, but learning can be messy....she always got up, held her confidence and did great! She chose Hailey & Seeya (new to our kennel) as her girls and they rocked it out!

We missed announcing this important birthday on Dec 20th!

The art of the multi-task: supervise free run for the kennel, have lunch, relax, and get some fresh air...Brad is out grooming trail and Brea is playing in the snow with the kids next door. We got this! Happy January 1st Everyone!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE! 2020 has been one for the records...like many we are leaving it behind with hopeful optimism that 2021 will bring many beautiful surprises, smiles and fantastic memories. 2021 we are counting on you! From our family to yours all the best in 2021!

Last year I met a woman named Vera and she left an impression on me. She is wise, funny, outspoken, kind, independant, beautiful and very memorable. I love the name Vera too, so when the V litter was born, I just knew we would have a Vera. So here is VERA, this little lady is a firecracker! She is probably the smallest, but she is by far the bravest. She was the first to climb out of the pen and usually is leading the pack. She is also very attentive and loving. I love a small, yet mighty female and miss Vera hits all the points. I look forward to her leading a team in years to come

Today we celebrate Ozzie He is definitely his own unique personality....wants to be apart of it, but not the center of it, will tolerate attention, but prefers to blend in....and definitely is not a fan of being photographed ...

Making the Connection We often get asked "Can we pet the dogs?" and our simple response is "Absolutely!". Our dogs love affection and those with "bigger personal bubbles" are given the space and respect they ask for. In this photo Tempo is going in for a closer connection Photo Credit: Chris Hau

Cold Hands? Cold Feet? Have you heard of Aurora Heat? https://www.auroraheat.ca/ It is a natural, long lasting, reusable & sustainably sourced Canadian Made product! Free Shipping In Canada too!

Bookings have been coming in fast this fall and all December half day tours are fully booked. ALL tours are fully booked from Dec 19th - 31st! There is still availability for 1hr tours from Dec 12-18th. Book Your 2021 Winter Dogsledding Adventure with us soon to avoid disappointment. WINTER IS COMING

Oh Heavens....Brea is in love with Ursa and asked to bring her down to the house for a "sleep over". Wel lil Ursa knew exactly what to do...she cuddled up on the couch for a movie, listened to bedtime stories, enjoyed morning laughs on the couch and even tolerated wearing a pretty skirt.

Lest we Forget. Today we set aside time to acknowledge the bravery and sacrifice that our veterans and people currently serving in our Armed Forces have made and continue to make so that we can live with freedoms and safety that not everyone is fortunate enough to have. With the deepest of gratitude, we say "Thank You".

The beat goes on as we work away at the "always something" to do list. Being a dogsledder is so much more then just dogsledding.

We have had some beautiful weather recently We decided to take advantage of the nice days to get some painting jobs done.

Amongst all the chaos in the world, the negativity and the stress, let's take a day to slow down, regroup and give thanks. HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE! I am grateful for many things, but the contents of this photos contains the "lions share" of my heart and where my gratitude falls.

Happy 2nd Birthday to these beautiful little Princesses! Elsa, Anna & Pocahontas are absolutely beautiful, super sweet and strong! We are all looking forward to getting out on the trails this winter....something tells me these gals will be leading some teams "into the unknown!"

A little afternoon free run play time at North Ridge Ranch.

Promoting and Supporting Local is important. Brea used her $50 in Cottage Country Spirit Coupons at her two favourite places: Maple Bluff Farm in Huntsville and Crystal Caves in South River.

Today calls for delicious local wine ...Muskoka Lakes Farm & Winery does not disappoint, their cranberry wine smells and tastes delicious. It is a gem of Bala, ONT and has a variety of offerings that you must check out! www.cranberry.ca

George Attla is a true legend in the sport of dogsledding. His story and experiences are amazing to say the least. This documentary is top notch and definitely worth the 50 minutes to watch. Enjoy Folks! Free for viewing until Oct 5th!

Our Pack is Driven By Desire & Fuelled by Inukshuk! Inukshuk is a Canadian Made high energy dogfood that is specially formulated for working dogs so they can perform at their best.

I think it is safe to say that the fall colours are very close to peak in our area... We hope everyone enjoyed some fresh air and beautiful scenery today.

I noticed on my drive to town today that the fall colours are really popping in Muskoka right now! Most people flock to Algonquin Park....but then you deal with insane traffic....check out this great blog on other locations that you can view amazing fall colours. Have a great weekend everyone!

Say hello to GOOSE ( Bird Litter). His personal preference is to be as close to your face as possible What do notice in this picture? A/ how insanely handsome Goose-man is B/ that he is hiding his ears C/ how incredibly long his tongue is... D/ that Gooser has a great smile E/ all of the above Put your answer in the comments below See more