Roche Percee was busy with the makings of family, friends and fellowship, all in the spirit of adventure, from Aug. 12 to 14. The village hosted its annual Tail Ride and Wagon Trek last weekend. The event featured a pastoral trek through the valley, in which the village is located, on horseback and in wagons.
This year’s ride had beautiful, sunny weather; but it may also mark a bittersweet turn. This year may be one of the last times the folks in Roche Percee saddle up for their ride on a regular, yearly basis.
Souris Valley Trekkers president Don Wyatt organized most of last weekend’s event, and stated that numbers have been slowly dwindling over the years.
“It’s smaller this year. There are about 60 people on the ride today,” said Wyatt, while prepping his horse, on Friday. “It’s a good way to get outside, and a fun family ride. One good thing I’ve noticed is that there are a lot of kids here this year.”
Some of the difficulty originates from the lack of powered camping amenities and the lack of a central building to hold a more organized event, stemming from the flood of 2011, which damaged the village’s community hall to the point where it needed to be demolished.
Since that point, camping accommodations are limited to unserviced space in the field where the riders camped and saddled up for the ride. Wyatt said that despite the declining popularity of the event, there are many guests who faithfully return to ride, year after year.
Participants took a number of different routes through the valley each day, exploring the valley’s many hills and returning to the campsite in the village each evening, to eat, listen to some music and socialize at the beer garden.
“It’s a sad thing to see the numbers dropping, but it’s still a glorious ride every year,” said Wyatt. “Twenty years ago, we were the young people, the crew, and we still are. It’s still a nice, picturesque ride through a piece of Saskatchewan history.”
