GLEN EWEN Sask. – For a recently retired couple from Pinawa, Man., a 1,000 kilometre journey is progressing one hoof at a time.
Brian and Marty Kuysten and friends are travelling to St. Victor, Sask., from Beausejour, Man., by horse-drawn covered wagon.
The trip began July 1 and is expected to finish Aug. 17.
The Kuystens already relocated their possessions to St. Victor, but decided they would move their horses and wagon the old-fashioned way.
“We wanted to take a step back from all the rush and technology, travel the back roads, and experience some of what the pioneers did,” Marty said.
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“It is so great to move at the speed of a walking horse. We get to smell the roses on the side of the road and clover, and see wildlife we wouldn’t have if we’d been travelling in a vehicle.”
Weeks prior to the trip, the couple drove the route, stopping about every 25 kilometres to make arrangements with landowners for overnight stays in yards or pastures.
“The hospitality of rural Saskatchewan and Manitoba has been phenomenal,” Brian said.
The number of wagons in the Kuysten caravan varied from week to week, with some people riding along for the entire trek and others joining or leaving at specific locations.
Ken Werner from Oakbank, Man., joined the group July 26. His wife, Diana, and grandchildren, Samantha, 10, and Kyla, 8, rode along for a few days, but Ken planned to do the rest of the route.
A business owner for the last 11 years who has worked for four decades, Ken said this was the first time he’d ever taken more than a few days for a holiday.
“It’s nice to get away from work and business,” he said. “This is something I’ve always wanted to do. I built my own wagon and didn’t want it to sit and never be used.”
Kyla said the family had “three excitements” in one day. They saw a moose, a coyote gnawing on a skull, and some cows and horses that came to the fence and followed the wagon train for a while.
“The boss horse wouldn’t let them come far,” Kyla said.
Bob Bamford, who lives near Winnipeg, has been on numerous trail rides throughout his home province and Saskatchewan.
Everything he, his grandson and friend needed from clothing to horse feed to water was in their wagon or could be purchased along the way.
“It would be nice to have a shower though,” Bob said.
Another veteran trail rider, Linden Zinn of Alexander, Man., brought a team of mules called Duke and Toby.
He also brought along Jake, a plush dog.
“I’m the only one travelling alone, so I thought I’d bring Jake. Quite a few people have been fooled.”
Susan Brand of Beausejour was making the entire trip on horseback, with all her supplies stashed in a wagon driven by Ken Buchholz.
“Any time you can spend time with horses, it’s a good day,” she said.
