{"id":14853,"date":"2020-08-25T09:09:35","date_gmt":"2020-08-25T13:09:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/visitoakville.com\/?p=14853"},"modified":"2020-08-25T09:09:35","modified_gmt":"2020-08-25T13:09:35","slug":"ambassador-snapshot-long-weekend-trail-rides-at-the-ranch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dev.zarrtech.net\/visitoakville\/2020\/08\/ambassador-snapshot-long-weekend-trail-rides-at-the-ranch\/","title":{"rendered":"Ambassador Snapshot: Long weekend trail rides at The Ranch"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Mrinalini Sundar<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

If you were to Google “Things to do in Oakville”, there is no way you would miss The Ranch<\/a>. They have been hosting horseback riding experiences in Oakville since 1980 and are one of the best riding facilities in GTA.<\/p>\n

I personally recommend the trail ride for families or anyone who is looking for date ideas. It is also a perfect activity for a long weekend, as it is safe, fun, outdoors, and exciting. Just remember that kids have to be accompanied by an adult and waivers have to be signed in advance.<\/p>\n

I booked myself a slot on one of their trail rides, but I really didn’t know what to expect. What would we do, where would we go, how many people would be there with me, will my horse be friendly? About 100 questions popped into my head.<\/p>\n

Thankfully, their website is incredibly informative and, includes information about what to wear, what to bring, and a demo video to show you first-hand what to expect.<\/p>\n

Make sure to get there 30 minutes early to sign up, collect your helmet and attend the demonstration. I was so happy to see that all the helmets were being systematically sanitized by the supervisors.<\/p>\n

Before setting off on the ride, the instructors took us through a quick 15-minute demonstration on how to hold the reigns and get on and get off the horse. For someone who hasn’t gotten on a horse for quite a few years, I was quite excited and nervous at the same time.<\/p>\n

It was finally time to take off and I was given a beautiful horse named Daisy. Make sure to remember your horse\u2019s name so you can interact with it and strike a connection. I had six other riders in my team and a trail guide.<\/p>\n

It took me a good 10 minutes to adjust to the speed of Daisy, but she was magnificent and I was amazed at how well she was trained. The views were incredible as we rode through fields, forests, and farmland. Daisy also stopped for a little scratch against a thorny tree, something I endured happily.<\/p>\n

Our one hour together flew by before I knew it and I kissed Daisy goodbye hoping to see her soon!<\/p>\n

This was such a fun way to experience Oakville and there are plenty of other activities you can include in your itinerary to make the most of a long weekend staycation.<\/p>\n

Shop and dine in Bronte Village<\/a>, Kerr Village<\/a> or Downtown Oakville<\/a>, and squeeze in other attractions like Lion\u2019s Valley Park or Bronte Creek Provincial Park<\/a>. Get out of the house and complete your staycation with an overnight stay at one of Oakville’s renowned hotels<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Mrinalini\u2019s tips for novice trail-riders:<\/h3>\n