Thursday, June 24, 2021

HERITAGE RANCH

       The three hundred acres I rambled through the other day is known as Heritage Ranch.

      In the early 1980's a very progressive government set up a plan to make large park areas in our cities. Trails and many facilities were developed. Cross country ski trails, picnic areas and playgrounds were established. 

     When I came here in 1969 the Heritage ranch area was farmed and much of it was taken  for gravel. 20 km of trails were developed. Some of the gravel pits were made into ponds and stocked with fish.

     But the main part of Heritage Ranch was to be set up for horses and at that time the emphasis was on equestrian training. Excellent corals and stables had been built. The equestrian training didn't pan out so they tried just horse riding. That didn't work well either. 

     When my daughter was about ten she was intensely interested in horse riding. She went to a 6 day equestrian camp. You could rent horses to ride at Heritage ranch so one day she took some allowance money and rented a horse to ride. I happened to be riding bike through the area when I saw a horse wildly galloping through gravel pits and around trees. There was a little kid on the horse hanging on to a half out of control horse and the little kid was my daughter. 

    Today the operator runs sleigh rides in the winter and an assortment of wagon rides in the summer.

    So as I was getting back from my ramble I could overlook the horse facilities. 






39 comments:

  1. My sister in law has ridden horses for years. They've got a farm and she has a couple of them in the barn. She cautions me to keep a distance. They don't like males apparently. They associate all males with vets.

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  2. Good heavens! That must have been a pretty frightening experience for your daughter. Did it put her off horses?

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    1. Apparently she was a good enough rider to stick to this horse.

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    2. Red's daughter here. Nope! I still like horses and am jealous whenever I spot riders out. Don't get to do much at all anymore, but would love to pick it up again.

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  3. Hello,
    The ranch sounds like a fun place. I remember my sister and I have riding lessons, the first ride was scary. The horses are pretty.
    Take care, enjoy your day! Have a happy weekend!

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    1. I rode horse on the farm but I didn't like riding or horses for that matter.

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  4. I gather that your daughter was fine. You kind of dropped the story there. ;)

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    1. She was fine and kept riding until she went to the States.

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  5. That is quite a story about your daughter on that horse. What a scene that must have been. Does she still like to ride these days?

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    1. This alarmed me but she was not worried. she could stay on the horse. She quit riding about 2008 when she went to the states.

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  6. I used to save up my allowance to ride horses, too. The Heritage Ranch looks like a nice place to ride, and I’m glad your daughter got to go. You must have felt very helpless though when you saw her from a distance hanging off her horse !

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    1. I guess she was a much better rider than I thought.

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    2. I wasn't used to cantering or galloping much at that point, so for once I was glad to have a Western saddle with a pommel up front to help me hold on and be stable. Just a lot more fun to get moving than plod along the whole time on a trail ride.

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  7. I love to see land preserved for nature related enjoyment by the public. It sounds like that is a wonderful place to spend outdoor time. I sure hope your daughter was able to get some help with the horse. It must have been a real surprise for you to see her like that!

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    1. I was surprised but I guess she was a much better rider than I thought.

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  8. So was your daughter all right and continued to love horses?

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    1. She was fine and came home with no worry. she had a good time.

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  9. I am glad your daughter was fine, otherwise you would have told us so. Right?

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    1. I didn't think she was that good a rider.

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  10. You left us hanging. Details, please, about your daughter’s wild ride and your part, if any, in her rescue! Or did you even know it was she at the time?

    Also, I think you meant corrals and not corals.

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    1. Good eye on picking out my spelling error. I have written with others and have been used to changes to my writing.

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  11. It must have been a heart stopping moment to realize your daughter was on that horse!

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    1. It was a scare but I continued riding and she was home by the time I got there.

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  12. It's good to know that even though some early plans didn't work out, the ranch is still serving recreational purposes.
    Many young girls have loved spending a summer week at horse camp, my daughter and granddaughter included.

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    1. From a little kid she wanted to ride horses.

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    2. Not so little anymore, and I still want to ride. Am tempted at times to go down the road from my house and see what's up at the nearby equestrian center. We have lovely wooded trails all over near us that people ride on. Am always jealous when I see people out on their horses.

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  13. This would be a fun place to visit. I went to a camp one time and we got to take hoses off to have a campfire breakfast.

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  14. My sister went to a horse riding camp here in Ohio. It was a nice place.

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    1. there are some very good horse camps for kids.

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  15. Looks like a follow-up is in order. :-)

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  16. You got it. Watch for it.

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  17. What an experience that must have been for your daughter! That was one tough little girl hanging on like that!

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  18. Ha! That's a great story. Must have been quite a shock for you, but it sounds like your daughter handled it just fine!

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  19. Did she go riding again after that?

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  20. okay she was only ten when she rode horse wow

    your daughter seems a very strong lady with astonishing will power as despite of that horse was not easy to ride she managed to finish ride without being hurt ,it was totally matter of her self confidence i must say :)

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  21. How wonderful that your daughter has such lovely memories of her days on a horse. And what fun to have her comment on your blog. But gosh! Seeing my daughter careening about on an energetic horse would have given me white hairs a lot sooner.

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