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By Horse or By Boat
(by Joel Martens)

"If I had a boat, I'd go out on the ocean… and if I had a pony I'd ride him on my boat, and we would all together, go out on the ocean, just me out on my pony on my boat…" Lyle Lovett

The warm wind pushes up white crests on the tops of the rolling waves. A crisp white triangle of a sailboat sail can be seen on the horizon. Occasionally you can see a splash of white spray bursting off of the bow as the small yacht charges through the oncoming waves. If the smell of the effervescent sage had a slightly saltier taint, you might think you took a wrong turn and ended up in a coastal inlet. We have reached Lake Diefenbaker somewhere near Main Centre, Saskatchewan. Main Centre itself boasts a population of three or four… and seven or eight if you include the "new" part of town. We've traveled down some dusty roads and we are now about Thirty-five kilometers North of the Trans Canada Highway numbered One. Cattle ranchers, hunters and a couple of adventurers know of this place, suffice it to say it's not your typical destination. This "off the beaten path" spot will provide you with some of the most accommodating horse training ground in central Canada. If your horse is three or twenty three, he will always learn something here. Rough 'n' rugged hills to rocky shorelines and badlands to sand land, it all adds up to a lot of great horseback riding. I have worked several young horses in this area and I intend to work several more here. Endurance riders may find this to be a great place to condition both horse and rider. I like it the most though because, for me, it's just a great place to escape to.

A small lakefront campground can be found here with limited facilities. No shower or power here but an artesian well has supplied a flow of ice cold ground water nonstop and year round since 1979. If you need anything else… ask around at the top of the river breaks, some of the locals would probably help you out in a pinch. For directions, phone numbers and free advice, you can send an email to the address posted at the end of this article.

Officially, this park is called the "Herbert Ferry Regional Park" and it is named after an old ferry system that used to traverse the lake to the other side. The ferry is no longer capable of making the trip but its remnants are proudly displayed at the park entrance.

This is a place where the purist can still discover distilled prairie cowboying. Don't expect any codling because, quite frankly, there aren't many folks around to do the codling. If you do come, feel free to bring your own array of creature comforts, provided that you do not need to plug them into anything. Bring a boat if you desire, the lake is deep enough for any fixed keel sailboat or large powerboat. Launching facilities vary depending on the season. If you intend to sail here, you should know that this is not an amateur sailing lake. Winds gust and shift continuously so you should be familiar with heavy weather sailing. Bring a good mount or two and be sure to leave behind those spongy muscles that you haven't used for a while. The park itself is about forty acres of rideable terrain and the surrounding area can be ridden with permission, a guide may even be available by prior arrangement. According to legend, trespassers beyond the park boundaries may be misplaced so it is wise to get your permission cleared in advance.
Diefenbaker Lake itself runs about 150 kilometers long and an average width of 1.5 kilometers. Lake fishing can be good here too and, if you are a really good fisherman, the fishing can be really good. Jack, whitefish, trout and other species inhabit the lake. The summer season is generally pleasant with a broad range in temperatures and a strong tendency for some afternoon wind with calm evenings (great for the day sailor). Wildlife is varied and is in abundance. Expect to see mule deer, antelope, white tail deer, coyote, fox and beaver. The beaver have successfully kept the park relatively treeless despite tireless efforts by park the park attendant.

As you ride this region, remember to leave it the way you found it. Its grandeur is found in its naturalness. The park and its surroundings have been generally left in its natural state and to spoil the region by lazy carelessness would be an outright shame. Enjoy… by horse or by boat.

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Developing Sound Minded Horses for Show or Pleasure!