SASKAIRE — Saskaire is nestled in the hills between Arcola and Carlyle, north of Highway 13. It is a non-profit organization and is an oasis for horseback riders with kilometres of trails weaving through the woods, over the hills and through creeks.
Saskaire is not just for horseback riders; it also has winter events, with a large cabin that may be rented throughout the year. The trails cross the Kenosee Lake trails as well, giving people many options for adventures.
On July 11-13, the 11th annual trail ride was held at Saskaire, bringing riders from the southeast corner of Saskatchewan to enjoy the great outdoors. Twenty-four horses and riders joined in to have fun for a weekend of nature, camping, and socials.
The weekend weather started a little gloomy with some light rain, but this did not stop campers and horse trailers from rolling in. Saturday morning, they woke up to a clear sunny sky.
Campers came on Friday night and went for a short trail ride, but anyone could join in on the trail rides for Saturday and Sunday. They started with a ride on Saturday morning for two hours. They returned to camp and later went out again to take a different trail for another couple of hours.
By the time Saturday evening rolled around, they had roughly 50-55 people for supper. The roast beef was prepared by Food World in Carlyle and all the members contributed to bringing salads or condiments, while Carlyle Bakery took care of the buns.
Once everyone had been fed, a penny raffle was held with 25-30 items, with many of the items donated by businesses and local people. Once the sun went down, it was time to bring out the music by Les Anderson around the campfire.
The money that was raised will be used to replace some of the paddles for the canoes, while the rest of the funds will help with general maintenance of the grounds and buildings.
The kilometres of trails always need to be maintained and cover three-quarters of land. During windstorms, fallen trees can block the path and these need to be cleaned up for a safe and enjoyable ride. This is what the Saskaire team aims for is safety.
Nichole Wood and her husband, Shawn Vermeeren, were two of the riders from Estevan. They arrived on Thursday night, as this is their yearly holiday. They take two of their horses and stay for the weekend. This is the fourth year they have been in attendance.
“I totally love the Saskaire Trail Ride,” said Nicole. “It lets people have time with their horses and friends. It is beautiful scenery and a nice relaxing time to get back to fresh air and free from city life.”
With another trail ride under their belts, they are thankful for all the help they receive from the members of the board, and those who came out to have a great time horsing around.
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