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Until recently, I had never heard of the Porcupine hills... now I'll never forget having been there. During an unforgetable four day trip, we visited three outstanding ranches... each with it's own personality and charm... over the next three months, I trust you will enjoy sharing in our adventure.

Brown Creek Ranch

A quiet country retreat with couples in mind

Remember when you were a kid and your parents drove you into the mountains? You kept bugging your folks to stop so you could get out and explore. That’s exactly how I felt as we drove the long winding road up to the Brown Creek Ranch. I just wanted to get out and ride.

The Brown Creek Ranch business card states “Log Cabin-Country Charm” if I were to add everything else, the business card could not contain the half of it. Located West of Claresholm, in the Porcupine Hills, is the Brown Creek Ranch homestead. If you are expecting a trail ride, it may not happen… if you are expecting to experience real ranch life and work; you will be more than pleased. Truly a working cattle ranch first, Brian prefers to take clients along to get the ranch work done rather than lead out a trail ride. The ranch runs about 160 head of cattle. Lush green natural grass, stretching foothills country, evergreen trees and spectacular vistas are the order of the day. This early fall day is perfect for our ride. Plenty of sunshine after several days of cool weather and rain.

Brian makes an exception today and takes time out to take us out for a ride of horse work, video work and photography. The riding is good. Lot’s of incline. The footing is excellent and no horseshoes required. As a rule, Brian supplies the horses and prefers to use his own horses for guests. He knows his horses and the guests enjoy the riding more knowing that the horses know the terrain. The horses also know the work and they can make up for difficulties a more inexperienced rider may encounter when working with cattle.

Brian’s wife, Shaunére loves having guests and it shows. The guest cabin is an ideal couple’s getaway. Newly built by Brian and Shaunére with high attention to detail inside and out, the cozy and comfortable cabin is well worth the trip out. If you love quilts or if you love sleeping... either way you're going to win here. Shaunére maintains the yard to the highest of standards and all of the little extras inside the cabin make the whole package complete.

I’ve got a couple of riding projects to work on today, both solid black. One recently purchased Appendix gelding “Ace” and one well bred Morgan gelding “Kash”. Ace is out first. The ride is good for him. His tendency to prance instead of walk will require some work. Lot’s of bending to make it awkward to prance followed by immediate release when the prancing stops.

As we ride up the long foothills slope, we can’t help but stop and enjoy the view. Looking back, we can see the road we drove up on. The clear blue early fall sky blends into the horizon until the two are one.

Guests of the ranch have come from all points on the globe. Brian explains that most of their guests are actually experienced riders. Many of them own horses in their home country and simply want to experience ranch life and riding under our wide open skies… who could blame them for that.

Another thing you’ll find is that Shaunére’s cooking is the perfect compliment to a day of riding. A Texas girl, her cooking skill and warm hospitality tie in nicely with the guest ranch side of things.

I get a chance at the end of the day to ride out and move a few cattle around. Putting Kash through his paces and working hard to move cattle up the long sloping grade back and forth, pushing the cattle hard against the forces of cattle lethargy and gravity. Brian soon joins in and together we move them up to higher ground before supper time. Speaking of supper time…

 

 

Joel Martens Training Co & TLC Stables
Developing Sound Minded Horses for Show or Pleasure!

Bus. 403.782.2616
Home 403.782.9849
R.R.#5 Lacombe, AB T0C 1S0

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