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Each day will take you into a different area on horseback with
lunch stops enroute. In the evenings a
charming country inn awaits you excellent
cuisine, and personal service. A string of well managed horses are at your
disposal for daily rides into the beautiful countryside with its maple
forests in the Canadian Appalachians. Ride across the farmlands and wide
open spaces, then visit a Maple Syrup farm on your way up high
into the Appalachian Mountains with its breathtaking vistas.
Your pallets will be pleased with the meals that consist of homegrown
vegetables, homemade "Duck Foie Gras", Buffalo steaks, Venison and
poultry.
Mid-week we will treat you to a Swedish massage.
If you are interested in learning more about the French/Quebecoise
cuisine, you can add 3 cooking classes during your stay
(October to May only).
 GRPQ02
2008 Rates include gourmet meals, charming
accommodations, 5 days of guided horseback riding
(4+ hrs each), and one Swedish or Stone massage..
7 days/ 6 nights $ 965
Single +
$125
... based on Can$ 965 / 125
.. Cooking
Class +$200
Can$ 200
Taxes:
7.5% PST and 2.5% GST
(5% for Canadian residents)
Dates:
Any
time with a minimum of 2 riders from April to November
Meeting: Eastern Townships
Airport: Quebec City
Transfer: Quebec City: $125 per car rt.
Montreal $175 per car rt.
to pay locally (Can$ 125 / 175)
Horses: Black Canadian, Appaloosa,
Quarter
Tack:
Western and English
Level: Intermediate
riders
Pace: Moderate with long trots
and canters
Min/Max Riders: 2-8
Note: nice accommodations and great meals, very personalized
service. Riding lessons are available at $22 per session
Minimum age is 9 with riding experience
additional Swedish and Stone massage
available at $55/hour (Can$ 55)
Itinerary
DAY ONE Arrival in the late afternoon, check in and relax on
the porch. A wonderful diner awaits your before you turn in for a good
night sleep.
DAY TWO Our first day of riding begins as we cross the
sparkling Blueberry River where we stop to let the horses drink the
fresh water. We continue on, venturing through natural raspberry land
and staying close to the lush forest. Next we come through the spruce
plantation which leads us out onto a comfortable green grass trail which
we follow at a walking pace. We follow this trail up and down many
little hills until arriving at Francoise Ranch. The horses wait under
large mature spruce trees while we have lunch. After eating we head back
to the ranch through open and green pastures. This large space exudes
calmness and is perfect for easy conversation while getting to know our
guide, Gina, and the surrounding area.
DAY THREE At 10am we head out for a majestic
trail that runs along the Appalachian Mountains and follow this trail to
the mountain of San Sebastien. At this point, we take a fifteen minute
drive while the horses are transported behind us in trailer. We
disembark in a small village, cloudy and evocative of fairytales,
stopping only to admire the church whose architecture is reminiscent of
a medieval castle. Once we arrive at the top of the mountain we give the
horses a break. From here we have a magnificent view of the village and
the Appalachian Mountain range which spans out before us. Many people
have noted that at this point in the ride they feel like they are “on
top of the world.” Here, we are surrounded by deep green wild forest and
lakes of varying sizes, all of which combine to create an amazing
ecological panorama. This stop provides many opportunities to take
photos of the landscape, or of you and your horse. We descend the
mountain and arrive at a pasture to greet some beautiful Apaloosian
horses that come to the fence to greet us. From here we head to a quiet
little beach on the pure-watered Lake Drolet, a perfect place for
swimming before heading home. We spend a relaxing hour here before
heading home through the mountains, which provide a calm atmosphere in
which to wind down at the end of our day.
DAY FOUR Again we begin at 10am to visit a
hidden trail, passing an old dirt road framed by maple trees. We
continue to cross a small river and climb to see the mountains. We pass
by old country farms with remarkable and interesting architecture. Upon
arrival at the entrance of the forest we pass through dark and shaded
areas, the scent of spruce wafting through the air. We know we are never
too secluded though; a quick glance to the side allows us a comforting
view of cows grazing in a nearby pasture. We continue riding through the
woods until we arrive at an older lumber shack; this is where we eat
lunch.
After lunch we return to the saddles of our well-rested horses, walking
through naturally aromatic flower fields. Many people often see Canadian
wildlife here, including falcons and deer. We return to the stable this
evening with a new sense of freedom discovered in the wilderness.
DAY FIVE Today we visit a Somptuous National Park,
Parc de Frontenac, which is rife with wildlife. As we explore the trail
through this conservation area, the only other humans we meet are those
on horseback. The trail is specially designed for trail rides, complete
with first quality horse sand. Our first stop is at a nearby quiet lake.
The tranquil view over the lake instills a sense of calm; in this place
it is easy to appreciate the peacefulness of nature. Don’t forget to
look for butterflies! We resume our trip to travel to a small cowboy
shack, where we stop and eat lunch. Resuming the trip, we travel along
narrow trails surrounded by trees. We make our way to a small Canadian
ranch where we meet a professional western trainer and his beautiful
Indian horses. We return to our ranch with our experiences as souvenirs.
DAY SIX On our fifth day we head to the Buffalo
Trails along a country road. We cross many pretty farms, our surrounding
view the large panorama of Lake St. Francois. Simply from observing this
landscape we are able to note the historic preservation. We continue
through this beautiful area into a truly Canadian forest, that of “Maple
Syrup”. We travel through bush until we cross Buffalo land, where we
stop to admire an amazing group of buffalo. Here, we observe the babies
close to their mothers, with the fathers’ watchful eyes never far away.
After this break we return through the ranch, continuously traipsing
through equally breathtaking scenery. Upon arrival at the Auberge we sit
down for our last meal together: Buffalo steak and red wine sauce.
DAY SEVEN Departure after breakfast |
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