Guide Course Canada: Basic Horseback Guide

Travel to Canada and experience an unforgettable horseback guide training in either seven or fourteen days on a western ranch amidst British Columbia’s untouched nature.
During your first days on the ranch you learn essential skills like how to saddle, shoe, and pack horses, horse training and how to care for horses, but you also learn about food preparation and how to live (safely) in the wilderness.

Afterwards, you can use this newly acquired knowledge for several days on a ride in Canadian back country. After completing the course, you have both the skills and confidence to lead guests on the horseback in remote back country or to go on your own wilderness adventure.
Acquire valuable knowledge on the topics of horse care, camp management, and outdoor safety and simultaneously get to know Canada’s untouched nature in an incomparable way.

Highlights

• Spend up to two weeks in Canada’s breath­taking nature
• Discover British Columbia’s wild backcountry on horseback
• Acquire essential horseback guide knowledge
• Spend the nights in the Canadian wilder­ness
• Meet people from all over the world
• Experi­ence Canada’s incom­pa­rable landscapes

Locations

Ready to grab your backpack?

If you would like to learn more about dates and fees for this trip we are happy to help you. Just drop us a message and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.

Chrissy, your travel agent for Canada

You are interested in joining this adventure? I am happy to help you! From the first steps until the end of the trip – I answer all of your questions and support you throughout your time abroad.

Horseback guide training in Canada

In this course you can enjoy a unique horseback guide training on a Western ranch in British Columbia’s untouched nature and get to know beautiful Canada on horseback.

Arrival and orien­ta­tion at the horse ranch

First of all, you fly to Vancouver International Airport and spend a night in a local hotel or hostel. The next morning an Express Shuttle brings you from Vancouver to your accommodation: a ranch a few hours north of Vancouver amidst the untouched wilderness of southwest British Columbia. After you had lunch on the ranch you will be introduced to the field of outdoor and adventure tourism and get a suitable horse – your companion for the next days.

Topics of the basic horseback guide training

You spend the following days acquiring essential skills about horse husbandry and horse care: you practice saddling, bridling, and hoof care. You also learn special techniques for packing, guiding and leading your horse and you practice bareback riding. Furthermore, you get to know important safety rules and acquire cooking skills for living in remote wilderness settings.
On the fourth day (one-week course) or respectively on the seventh day (two-week course) you leave for your packtrip adventure for several days that leads you through ancient forests, wild flower meadows, wide open valleys and impressive mountain landscapes.

Die kommenden Tage reitet Ihr von Camp zu Camp und werdet währenddessen mit wesentlichen Outdoor-Fertigkeiten wie dem Feuermachen, der Errichtung von Schutzständen, der Wasser- und Nahrungsbeschaffung sowie Erste-Hilfe-Maßnahmen und Überlebensstrategien in der Wildnis vertraut gemacht. Dabei seid Ihr in ständiger Begleitung eines erfahrenen Guides, der seinen Erfahrungsschatz mit Euch teilt und wertvolles Pferde-, Outdoor und Naturwissen an Euch weitergibt.
Am letzten Tag reitet ihr zurück zur Ranch, um nach einem gemeinsamen Abschiedsessen um zahlreiche neue Kenntnisse reicher den Rückweg anzutreten.

Accom­mo­da­tion in British Columbia

During the first days of your Wilderness Experience you live on a horse and guest ranch amidst the wild nature of southwest British Columbia together with other participants of the course where you sleep in tents. On the ranch you receive three meals every day. The wilderness area that surrounds the ranch measures 5000 square kilometers, belongs to the ranch itself and is the setting for your upcoming ride.
After a couple of days – in the one-week course on the fourth day; in the two-week course on the seventh day – you leave for the Canadian wilderness and sleep in a wilderness camp. These are located far away from the usual tourist trails and can range from big canvas tents to rustic mountain huts. All necessary food items are carried by you and your group and are either prepared in one of the camps or on the way.

Leisure time as a guide student in North America

As the focus of this course is on your horseback guide training, free time is relatively limited. Usually you can use the evening hours for relaxing and pursuing own activities, though. There is also a ranch library; and you can use deck chairs to relax in the large garden.

Arriving in Canada

One day prior to course start you arrive at Vancouver International Airport and spend one night in the city. The next morning you get to the ranch, your base station, via an express shuttle.

Days on the ranch in British Columbia

The day of your arrival as well as the following two or five days (depending on if you join the one- or the two-week course) you spend on the ranch acquiring horseback guide and outdoor skills – always instructed by an expert.

Packtrip in the Canadian wilderness

On the morning of your fourth/seventh course day you and your group finally make your way in Canada’s backcountry. Within the following days you explore the stunning wilderness and gather more valuable hands-on experience.

Return to ranch and departure

On your last course day you ride back to ranch. After a farewell dinner it is time for you to travel back home or to continue your journey. Each participant receives a certificate after successfully completing the course.

Learn what others say about their Natucate adventure.

“After a small meal we went on our first game drive. For me it was the very first time out in the African bush and I immediately fell in love with it.”

“The experiences you can gain are unique – especially when roaming the bush on foot.”

“I especially liked the great team on site and visiting Wasgamuwa National Park.”

“The volunteer team worked great and the support from Clara, Shameel and Basith was very good.”

British Columbia is a Canadian province located on the Pacific coast between Canada’s provinces of Yukon and Alberta and the United States. Vancouver is the largest city and at the same time the largest economic centre.

First and foremost, forests dominate the 944,735 km² of British Columbia. The abundance of species that can be found here attracts countless travellers every year. Bears, elks, bobcats, wolves, pumas and lots of other wildlife can be seen with a bit of luck in the midst of the breathtaking wilderness – the perfect destination for every nature and outdoor enthusiast.
British Columbia’s pristine natural landscapes will be your home during your educational adventure in Canada.

British Columbia is a Canadian province located on the Pacific coast between Canada’s provinces of Yukon and Alberta and the United States. Vancouver is the largest city and at the same time the largest economic centre.

First and foremost, forests dominate the 944,735 km² of British Columbia. The abundance of species that can be found here attracts countless travellers every year. Bears, elks, bobcats, wolves, pumas and lots of other wildlife can be seen with a bit of luck in the midst of the breathtaking wilderness – the perfect destination for every nature and outdoor enthusiast.
British Columbia’s pristine natural landscapes will be your home during your educational adventure in Canada.

Background of the horseback guide course in Canada

Thanks to its huge forests, picturesque fjords, numerous lakes, rough coasts, high glaciers, and a rich fauna, Canada is a perfect setting for an impressive nature experience. In this course you are at close quarters with Canada’s beautiful nature and discover the majestic mountain ranges and wide valleys of the second largest country in the world on horseback. The breathtaking flora and fauna provides optimal conditions for an unforgettable training adventure in the North American wilderness.

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FAQ – Learn more about this trip

Prior to departure to Canada

Do I need specific requirements or abilities to apply for the programme?

In order to apply for wilderness programme in Canada you need to be 18 or older and be able to effectively communicate in English. Since this project requires you to be physically active we need a doctor’s certificate confirming your state of health and physical fitness. You should be comfortable living mostly outdoors, function well in team but able to work independently when needed. Moreover, you should be passionate about nature and the outdoor life. For all advanced courses (Advanced Horseback Guide, Advanced Bushcraft course, Advanced Survival course, Extreme Survival course) it is important for you to be experienced in that specific field.
Depending on your nationality and the duration of your stay you need to apply for eTA or a visa. You might check out the foreign department’s website for the visa standards or ask the Natucate team directly.

Prior to your departure we will help you organise and plan your whole stay. We will help you find a good flight and arrange your eTA/visa application. Furthermore, your accommodation and daily meals will be provided. Flights, visa fees and transport are not included.

You definitely need travel insurance to start your volunteering work with Natucate. When taking part in the horseback guide courses, you need to make sure that your insurance covers horse riding activities. We can help you find a suitable one. In general you need to talk to your doctor and make sure you are vaccinated against Measles, Mumps and Rubella. Other suggested vaccinations include hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, pertussis, influenza, polio, tetanus and pneumococcus. For current information and warnings regarding your destination you should check out the homepage of the foreign department. In general, you should be in good physical condition since long day trips in rough terrain can be exhausting.

• Wildlife Tracking: 4 days
• Horseback Guide course | Basic: 1 or 2 weeks – Advanced: 1 week
• Hiking Guide course: 1 week
• Bushcraft course | Basic: 4 days – Advanced: 4 days
• Survival course | Basic: 4 days – Advanced: 4 days – Extreme: 5-10 days

Please bring practical clothing, preferably layers. You will be spending a lot of time outside; therefore, you should consider packing tough clothing which can get dirty. You should also pack rain pants and a rain jacket as well as practical footwear (hiking/work boots) and rubber boots. Students who are going to camp are required to bring a sleeping bag (3-season, rated to -10°C), a pillow and should also bring towels and personal toiletries. Furthermore, we advise you to pack a sunhat, sunscreen, bug repellent, flashlight, alarm clock and extra batteries. As a student in any of the guide courses you should further bring along a Western hat, bandana, jeans or comfortable riding pants, gloves, an empty pillow case and a small pocket knife. If you like, you can also bring a helmet (Horseback Guide courses), binoculars and a spotting scope. Don’t forget your passport, necessary medications and your camera.

Arrival in Canada

How do I arrive at my destination, do I have to organise it myself?

You need to book a flight to Vancouver International Airport where you preferably arrive one day before the course starts. After you’ve spent a night in the city of Vancouver you will be picked up by an Express Shuttle (with an extra charge) in the morning and taken to the ranch, your – depending on the programme – base station or accommodation for the following four days.

Life on site in Canada

How big is the group?

Each group consists of 8 participants.

Wildlife Tracking: Your base station is a horse and guest ranch, nestled in the pristine wilderness of Southwestern British Columbia. With its prime location at the doorstep of Big Creek Park and the South Chilcotin Mountains, the ranch provides an ideal launching point for a special brand of remote, deep wilderness journeys. The horse ranch is a modern day equivalent of the last outpost – the place where early explorers and mountaineers would stock up on supplies for their daring expeditions. Today, you’ll see the guides gathering provisions and gearing up at the ranch before each and every outdoor adventure. Even once your journey is underway, the horse ranch continues to provide the logistical support that makes every deep wilderness journey possible. Along with all the basic amenities, the ranch house provides private rooms with ensuite bathrooms for the Wildlife Tracking participants.

Horseback Guide & Hiking Guide courses: While at the ranch, students and staff are provided with accommodation in tent cabins. They are canvas A-frame wall tents built on a wooden platform and covered with tarps for waterproofing. Each tent has two beds for shared accommodation. Some furniture is available, but we recommend you bring your own pillow. The ranch has two main buildings, the ranch house is for our guests. There is a communal dining room and kitchen that everyone shares. The living room and bedrooms in the ranch house are for our guests, but student and staff are welcome to relax by the fire when guests are not present. The guide cabin is located next to the tent village and has bathrooms, showers, and a common room. Coin-operated laundry is two loonies and three quarters per wash, dryer is free. The ranch does not provide change for the washing machine, so be sure to bring your own. When leaving the ranch and heading into the Chilcotin Mountains you’ll be accommodated in the ranch’s wilderness camps, each day a different camp. Our wilderness camps run the spectrum of British Columbia camping styles, from basic canvas tents on raised platforms to solid mountain cabins. Regardless of what corner of the park you’re in and which camps you stay at, you’ll get to savour the solitude and refreshment of remote wilderness. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are prepared by the group and will be enjoyed either in the camp or while being on a trip.

Bushcraft and Survival courses: After your arrival at the ranch you’ll meet your team members and head to British Columbia’s backcountry. Your experienced instructor will show you how to build shelters for longer wilderness stays in which you will sleep the following nights.

As long as you are at the ranch you’ll be provided with three meals per day – breakfast, lunch and dinner. As soon as you leave for the Canadian bush you and your group will be responsible for preparing meals together. Breakfast and dinner are usually enjoyed in your wilderness camp, lunch preparation takes place while being on a trip.

Yes, you will find a contact person at the ranch. Additionally you will be looked after by a supervisor.

The Canadian dollar is the official currency in Canada. A few weeks prior to departure to Canada you can get a certain amount of dollars from your local bank for the day you arrive. There are also foreign exchange places at the airport. You should take a credit card with you to withdraw cash at the airport or in the city.
During your time in the programme you basically do not need any money at all except for a few coins to be able to use the washing machine (if you need to). The ranch is located in the remote wilderness of British Columbia, without any stores or shops in the surrounding area. You’ll be provided with accommodation and food – so there’s nothing to spend money on. We recommend you, though, to bring a certain amount of cash with you – just in case.

Participants should not expect to be able to frequently communicate via internet or telephone during their Canadian outdoor adventure. WiFi at the ranch is available from 08:00 PM to 07:00 AM. You are welcome to use the ranch’s phones any time, but there’s no cell phone range.

The Chilcotin area enjoys a drier, continental climate. Summers are usually warm and dry, winters are cold but not damp. In the Chilcotin area, most snow packs melt by early April and average daily highs reach 13-15°C. The area experiences warm summers along with frequent dry spells. During the day temperatures can reach 19-22°C through July and August. As you travel north, temperatures become cooler. September and October are classic autumn months in the Chilcotin area. Weather is hard to predict during this time and early snowfalls can occur in late September. Daytime temperatures often reach highs of 15°C but easily drop to freezing at night. Snow usually starts to fall anytime after mid-November in the interior regions. You can expect temperatures between -4° and -12°C.

There is a no drug- and alcohol policy at the ranch, so alcoholic beverages are not offered.