source: Farm and Food Report
In southeast Saskatchewan, Harvey MacFarlane is known as a quiet and engaging Clydesdale horse breeder with a passion for teaching folks how to drive a team of horses -- and he has the patience to do it, as his students will attest.
He has just committed himself to an ambitious project: selling wagon trek experiences to tourists and local people who just don't have the resources and equipment to do it on their own; people who are eager to try journeying on Prairie Schooners.
"We have over 20 head of well-trained Clydesdales right now, and we are building three covered wagons that will seat 10 people and join into the treks that have been organized during our Centennial year," MacFarlane says. "The first of the season, the 2005 Heritage Trek, will leave Moosomin on May 30, heading for Estevan, where it will arrive on June 9th. It will retrace the route that the North West Mounted Police took in 1886 to establish the detachment assigned to patrol the border."
In May of 1886, the Southeast had welcomed trekkers with rain, cold temperatures and snow flurries. However, that did not dampen the spirit of the hardy men who spent 12 days on the backs of their horses, and slept on the wide open prairie.
In 2005, a few luxuries are allowed on MacFarlane's version of the trek. "We're going to have tents with propane heaters for the nights that are cool," says MacFarlane. "On some treks you have to do your own cooking, but local service clubs along the route are providing meals and entertainment every night for us on this one."
MacFarlane has given a lot of thought to achieving the right balance between tradition and comfort.
"We use a vinyl tarp on the wagons in case it does rain and for durability. If you have a lot of wind, you need something that will stand up to the elements. The wagons are going to be built six feet wide with seating down each side, so it leaves enough room for people to get in and out without stepping on each other. We are trying to make the trip comfortable, yet as authentic as possible."
One major issue is the wagon wheels themselves. Conestoga wagons were the original Prairie Schooners. Although designed for overland trips, with steel tires on wooden rims, ride quality did not figure as highly as functionality in specifications.
"The wooden wheels are definitely more authentic, but they aren't nearly as nice to ride on. When you are going across country, and there are gopher holes and what not, they jar a fair bit. The rubber tires make it a much more comfortable ride for people who aren't used to bouncing around. They are also easier to pull for the horses," according to MacFarlane.
What is it like to ride on a wagon for a whole day?
"You get up in the morning and have your breakfast. We're going to make between 12 and 14 miles most days, most of it all across prairie country. One day we have 22 miles to make and one day, we have only seven. The trek stops often to let people take pictures, get out and move around. Bagged lunches are provided for when we stop at noon. Then we carry on into camp and set up. We're going to help the guests who want to participate in the care of the horses learn how to hook and unhook; harness and unharness; and groom the horses if they want. Clydesdales are gentle giants, and mine love the attention."
People come from all over to go on these treks, says MacFarlane. "We were down on the Roche Percee Trek one year and a wedding took place there for people who met on the trek a couple years previous. You develop friendships with people you might never meet if you weren't on these treks."
MacFarlane is pleased that trek organizers are allowing him to make this experience available on a commercial basis.
"You know, there are a lot of older people who maybe used horses and would like to sit behind them again for a day or two. I have one fellow who wants to bring two of his grandsons on this trek, for part of it. He's really looking forward to them seeing how he went to school behind a team of horses. It'll give riders a chance to understand what the pioneers went through to settle this country, by moving from one spot to the other with just the horses to get them there."
There is time for sharing, for just looking around at nature, or at the convoy as it slowly makes its way south.
"With the cover on the wagons that we can roll up for visibility and put down for bad weather, the trip should be enjoyable. With a bunch of people who aren't used to going out and spending all day in the saddle or in wagons, trek organizers have kept the mileage low, to take away some of the discomfort. It is an easy day for the horses. Horses working in the field were expected to make 20 miles a day, just to give you a comparison. I've ridden over 50 miles a day, many days myself."
The logistics of this adventure are impressive.
"On this trek, we are going to move support vehicles ahead each day to the next camp site. That allows us to carry enough feed so the horses don't have to go out and graze at night. Guests will have access to sanitation facilities, and there will be a water truck for the horses. If you have a couple of hundred horses out there, that takes a lot of water."
MacFarlane can't wait to get this show on the road. "We can transport up to 12 horses at a time. Whether we need four on a wagon for a particular stretch or just two, that'll depend on the terrain and on how many people are going. So please tell your friends about our 2005 Heritage Trek."
For more information about the 2005 Heritage Trek, visit: www.cap.estevan.sk.ca/trek or call Delores Cutler at (306) 453-2987.
For more information, contact:
Harvey MacFarlane
Sanguine Clydes
(306) 698-2253
www.sanguineclydes-wagontrek.com
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