24/ NOVEMBER 2013 THE RIDER 2013 Ontario Trail Riders Association Board of Directors


President Janice Clegg 519-940-1445


pineriverranch@gmail.com


Vice President / Regional Rep Coordinator Karen Plume 519-323-4653 kp59ca@gmail.com


Secretary/ Admin Director Joan Patterson joanpatterson@xplornet.com


Grants/Ontario Trillium Council/ OEF/ Equine Canada Bonnie Simpson equestriantrails@hotmail.com


Memberships Wendy Downer 705-322-0287 appy1714@gmail.com


Treasurer Jan Belanger Elmvale, ON L0L 1P0 Home: 705-322-2027 Email: janbel@csolve.net


Newsletter Elaine Wiesner elaine.a.wiesner@gmail.com


OTRA: Box 3038, Elmvale, ON L0L 1P0 • www.otra.ca


in 1970, is an equestrian organization which promotes recreational trail riding and the creation, development, preservation and safe use of trails.


The Ontario Trail Riders Association Inc, established


Trade Show Booth/Education Cathy Togeretz cathytogeretz@sympatico.ca


Trade Show Booth/Education Darlene Sharpe dsharpe@uoguelph.ca


Event Calendar Sonja Wyss info@barefoot-saddlecanada.ca


with the Ontario Trails Council, Ontario Equestrian Federation and Equine Canada. We welcome your membership to help sup- port the voice of OTRA on your behalf. For more information please visit our website at www.otra.ca


Algonquin Park trail ride: horses, art and food Caleb, Ronny, Mobes and


My equine drawing: Horses at Dusk


Some folks take a canoe


to Algonquin Park. I take my mare and paint box for a weekend of trail riding and art making. I had already ven- tured into solo camping with Georgia Grace. But I’m no fool. I have tons to learn. Join- ing up with dedicated trail rid- ing equestrians would demon- strate many kinds of travel rigs and horse camping set ups. The Ontario Trail Riders’ Association (OTRA) ren- dezvous on Labour Day week- end was my ticket. The drive to Algonquin Park was six hours and my longest to date. It is travel protocol to check horse, rig, and yourself along the way. My first stop was Latchford, where by happen- stance; I met the equestrian acrobats from the Bow-


David led double lives, driv- ing the animal trucks and running the mobile circus. Their thirty something year bodies were still lithe enough to take somersaults on a moving horse. Figuring these folks had something to teach me about horse haul- ing (not acrobatics), I struck up a conversation and queried them for best prac- tices. Caleb, with bewitch- ing eyes, advised taking stops slowly and gradually. About tying or not tying your horse while trailering,


he says untied and without halter, and to teach your horse to obey with only a


rope around its neck. Sure thing! Inside their massive cargo


trucks, many creatures await-


Georgia takes a roll in her personal jacuzzi.


aromatic plant, sweet fern. Turtle shells were everywhere –my modus operandi– so I felt quite at home. As for Georgia, she had her own sand pit, which is equivalent to having a personal Jacuzzi. The campground had all


Dawn from Bianca and Tom’s barn.


ed. At least one zebra, one camel, four white Welsh ponies, monkeys, and one black Ara- bian


stallion. Mobes, Ronny, Caleb and David. a


Peace and convivi- ality was insured, because all, save a monkey, were of the male persua- sion (like one dame on a ship, it’s bad luck). On spontaneous


whim, I asked if I could be their resident cook and equine massage therapist. (I always wanted to run away with the circus. Haven’t you?) This could be my job next summer. Next was an overnight


manville Zoo.


The Welsh ponies get a rest in Latchford.


visit with the delightful Bianca and Tom in Powassan. Horses truly are particular about where they stay, and just like humans, have opinions. Geor- gia arrived as if she had been there before, settling in so nat-


the amenities: a lake for swim- ming and water source for horses, plenty of ensuite trails, a large fire pit with grill, a shed with maps and guest- book, an outhouse, and manure pen. What more could a girl ask for?


There were about 10 rigs


on location. Some were like mine– a truck camper and tag-


Travelling with a crowd.


urally. The farm’s horses wel-


comed her too, without a fuss, neigh or a nicker. I had the pleasure to massage Deagan, one of Bianca’s giant (18+ hands) horses. Bianca says he was perfect after the massage. Deagan was happy too. When I finally arrived in


Algonquin Park, I found the campground near the eastern gate at Whitney. I settled into an expansive sandy site sur- rounded by my favourite wild


There were several eleva- A high-line type attachment.


tions, a few bridge crossings, the odd rock garden and some mud holes. Nothing was diffi- cult for a horse or rider. Most horses were shod, but Georgia goes barefoot and her hooves got ragged up a little. Darlene had the solution in the Easy Boot. She swears by them, gallops and competes in them. We were in the saddle for 3 or 4 hours per ride. If a faster pace faster than a walk is your style, you are expected trail ride on your own.


Now, I’ve already said


the horses were well behaved, but the jury was out on the people. It was soon apparent this was a fun loving crew. We shared stories at the lunch cabin, and joked around the campfires. When darkness fell I made a few batches of corn fritters (lots of butter and eggs). And as we watched the stars blaze into the night, I shyly brought out my fiddle so we could all sing. Georgia and


‘weekender’ trailer with patio.


along horse trailer, but most hauled a live-in horse trailer with a gooseneck hitch. Other sleeping arrangements includ- ed a tent or a hard cab on a truck.


Someone hauled


Truck camper, tag-along and high-line.


with an SUV. Another hauled a stock trailer. But regardless of the rig, it was plain to see that these ordinary folk con- sidered their horses to be fam- ily. After the first trail ride with everyone I could tell that all the horses were well behaved. Georgia has a big walk and could easily overtake the lead horse, which would have been terribly impolite. So I took up the time by doing lateral work on the trail: shoulder-in, haunches-in, leg yields, half passes, and the occasional halt. Besides, isn’t there some merit in teaching your horse to hold a place in a line? We rode through beauti-


SUV, tent and tag-along.


ful trails which offered a vari- ety of mature hardwood, white pine, and the odd conifer plan- tation. Rangers from Algo- nquin Park maintain these trails and cabins throughout the winter for cross country skiers. What better way to uti- lize the land base than to open it to equestrians during the other seasons?


An electric fence and


OTRA and its members represent the equestrian trail user


Bridge and goldenrod. massage therapist. She travels


A western saddle rig.


Mules resting Chinks and chaps.


by horse caravan, searching trails for equine access. She invites your comments, sug- gestions, and commissions. https://www.facebook.com/car ynjoycolman http://carynjoycolman.word- press.com


Corn fritters on the open fire.


Stream crossing.


I can’t wait to take other trail riding trips!


Caryn Colman is a fine art painter, caterer, and equine Easy Boots.


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