Blue Vail is a beautiful, authentic western family owned and operated working horse and cattle ranch in Alberta, Canada just west of Okotoks over looking the Sheep River and only 25 minutes to south Calgary. There are six two room cabins with room enough to hold four people each being built on the property, allowing for a total occupancy of twenty-four guests at a time. The property is one hundred and forty nine acres of some of the most beautiful land in Alberta with a mixture of flat lands, rolling hills, spaced forests, and well-known bodies of water. Blue Vail will be offering things such as twenty four hour room service, providing each guest with an in-cabin menu of things to choose from, as well as daily cabin clean up-with the option to refuse-while guests are out for activities. Activities would include scheduled hunting trips, overnight camping trips on the open range, cattle drives, team penning (where a group of two on horseback wrangle 2-4 cows into a separate pen from a herd of 20-30), rodeos where guests showcase things such as roping, pole bending, and barrel racing for prizes, daily trail rides, hiking, swimming, fishing, rafting, campfires, and sporting activities such as football, soccer, and volleyball. They will also provide western dancing and a cookout three times a week along with the optional riding lesson for those who are either inexperienced or would like a refresher. Rates stand at $150 per person per night, and a week long booking will lower the price to $1000 as long as no more then 4 people are involved. My close friend is part owner, and if you tell her I sent you she'd happily give you a discount! Deposit rates vary, and are negotiable. Refunds vary. I highly suggest checking it out, the land is beautiful and I guarentee you, you'll enjoy the expirence. Along with the Equine Retreat, Blue Vail is also a working beef Cattle Ranch, and they take in and treat problem horses, returning them to their owners in perfect condition. They combine traditional vetinary medicine along with more holistic herbs and practices. No horse is ever turned away, and gentle and patience is key. As well as that, they take in rescue horses they then rehabilitate and re-home, along with offering board and lesson services.
Rates:
Equine Retreat: $150 per person per night
Lessons on a ranch-owned horse: $40 an hour
Lessons on a client owned horse: $20 an hour
To take on your problem horse, break or train your horse: $100 a week, price may vary depending on the level of the problem, but $100 is the max.
To rehabilitate and re-home problem horses: $50 dollar fee from rescue centers, $100 dollar fee from private farms
To take care of your pregnant mare: $200-300 a month depending on difficulties
To train you and your horse for show jumping competitions or rodeo competitions: $20 an hour
I can promise you that at Blue Vail you and your horse will be top priority, they are the very definition of southern hospitality. If you would be interested in any of their services you can call at 1(540)-798-6579 or email them at Bluevailranch@gmail.com
Equine Retreat, "Dude Ranch", bookings cannot be scheduled before December, but the many options for winter activities are something to strongly consider! Call and make your reservations now!
A website will be put up soon as well. Until then, feel free to call and email the contacts listed above for any more information.
**They are also looking for future possible employees. If you are interested in the work, give them a call or shoot them an email.
