I've been involved with horses for over 20 years, and I have to say this place is run very well. The family and staff are friendly, and they will try their best to make your experience a good one. The cottage on the lake is rustic and cozy. The horses are treated well which is important to me. The trail ride and cow herding was a fantastic experience.
If you are looking for a welcoming atmosphere and a true experience this is a place to go!
Always love my time at the ranch!! The family works so hard to keep everything nice and they have awesome events as well! We've come out to multiple rodeos and trail rides and always had a 5* experience! #horsestuff
Had an amazing time with wonderful people! Like a little slice of heaven tucked away on a horse ranch with lake front cabins and waterfalls. Excellent bonfires and BBQ too! Going back every year!
Always so fun and such a great crew there. Something for everyone!
The property is like a dream...
A beautiful ranch and incredible experience. Booked to stay here at the cottage on the lake for a week. So pleased I did. I'm on my second day and wish I was staying longer. The cabin is fantastic, remote and quiet. It's glamping at its best with the off the grid feel, no power, and a beautiful centre fireplace in the cottage. Incredible sunset last night, late night swim, and loons calling. Does it get any better? Just back from horseback riding to the falls and back - staff, horses, and ranch - all amazing. I'll be bragging about this place for a while. Will be back for sure. Elana, her father Bruno - have made this trip exceptional by tending to absolutely everything. I couldnt be more please and extremely thankful.
Wonderful experience, the staff and guides were experienced and kind, taking the time to guide the group through basic safety and riding instructions. The Ranch is absolutely beautiful and well maintained, you can see the love and care they have for their horses and other animals. They are adding a lounge which is really promising for the months to come. The riding through the trails and the creek, followed by a waterfall sightseeing was really nice and relaxing, it truly shows how beautiful Canada is.
The owner showed us around after the ride, explaining a bit of the farm and new plans, he was very kind and welcoming, we will definitely go back to experience the cabins next. 100% recommended.
Such a great place, awesome people and great riding.
We will be back!!!
I've had SUCH a great time at this place! SO many great memories were made and I met so many awesome people, all of them love the place and work hard and long days!
The facility is just georgous, the Saloon is really authentic and makes you feel at home! The whole family is always friendly and happy to help. I can't wait to go back and spend more time at this beautiful place!
We went on the two-hour ride to the waterfalls during March break. We all felt it was an absolutely beautiful ride in the winter time. The staff was excellent and the horses were calm and you could tell they are well taken care of. There were six of us that rode and we all felt that it was a wonderful experience.
We had such a wonderful fine this weekend horseback riding here! It was my first time and they were very informative, the horses were gentle and sweet and was able to just relax and enjoy. Thank you for being such a great place to go!
Wonderful bunch of people, very friendly! Its a home away from home <3
DON T RENT THE HALL!
Our son was just married at the barn and the condition of the building was not only bad, but dangerous. It was supposed to be heated, but the radiator heater was not even connected. The owner s solution was a propane tank with a blower, which we had to turn off because many family members started feeling sick and others were concerned about the obvious fire hazard. Secondly, the counter where we were serving the food was completely covered in mouse droppings that hadn t been cleaned for some time. I had to bring in commercial cleaners and start scrubbing it myself. The toilets and sink that were supposed to be fixed weren t, so there was only one functional toilet for about 50 women. The passway to the washroom was completely dark, except for a small blue light at one end. I m thankful that no one was hurt. Unfortunately, many family members froze and/or felt sick (it was less than 10 degrees in the barn) and had to leave early. The cottage that was supposed to be included in the price was not accessible or lighted up. When we approached the owners about these problems and broken promises, they were unapologetic. I want to make sure that people are better informed than my son was. I think the owners should stick to horse back riding.
My husband and I did the 2.5 hour Rough and Tough. First off, our experience with the staff was incredible. They were really friendly, easy going with letting us pet the horses in the pasture, and really good with returning calls in a timely manner. Our tour guide was also awesome in providing direction and being friendly. Overall, customer service was superb.
The ranch itself is gorgeous as is the land surrounding it. Definitely worth a trip out to admire our Canadian landscape.
Now, as for the ride itself... It was not for the weak, I tell you. It lived up to its name -- rough and tough. If you have serious experience on a horse, you'll enjoy this ride immensely. If you've only done relaxing trail rides in the past, you'll need some serious confidence and a serious sense of adventure.
The best way to describe the Rough and Tough is to say it's hiking with horses. There are some steep inclines both up and downhill on rocky and/or muddy terrain. You'll need good control of your horse as he slides his way down, and uphill to keep him moving.
The trails (path through the woods is more like it) were narrow so you were also required to be able to push into the trees to help your horse and to avoid your own scraped knees.
All in all, I've been on trail rides where you could easily sleep through them, if you so desired. This was not one of them, and it was aaaamazing! Definitely fun, definitely adventurous, and all in all required such a connection and trust with your horse which really, isn't that what riding is about? :)
Great value here. Highly recommend!
Staff are amazing. You get the retreat experience but they make you feel at home. Cabin is clean on a beautiful lake. Supplied meals are delicious. Horses are well trained. Lots to do and see.
Had an amazing time! My boyfriend and I did the overnight stay with 3 hours worth of riding. We had no prior experience riding, nor are we overly outdoorsy.
The trail rides were great and our instructor was super relaxed.
We brought sleeping bags, pillows, a change of clothes and dinner and breakfast for the next day. The cabin came equipped with a propane BBQ which worked perfectly. We brought flashlights as well, however, we did not use them as there were candles which we lit.
We visited at the end of October, on a rainy couple of days. It was 5 degrees out, but the cabin warmed up quickly once we got the fire place going.
The only thing I would recommend other overnight visitors bringing is a their own BBQ-style lighter, and perhaps some extra candles. Again, we are not outdoorsy and had trouble starting the fire. If you are like us, we recommend bringing your own firestarters.
We stayed in the Rocky Point cabin, which had two double beds and two full-length couches. There was also a bunkie beside the cabin which had bunk beds.
Was an awesome experience. Staff are very friendly, the dogs ready to great you and the horses we matched to our experience. We will definitely be back.
My friend and I stayed in one of the cabins for two nights and we went on three trail rides and did the cattle sorting. The cabin was adorable and the view of the lake was spectacular. All of the horses were well behaved and the trail rides were beautiful with a variety of terrain. The cattle sorting was lots of fun though challenging! I would highly recommend Von Doeler s Ranch and will definitely stay here again in the future!
Visited just recently and had a fantastic time!!! The staff and horses are all lovely, the trails are beautiful and it smells really nice. Looking forward to returning in the fall with the kids and grandparents.
you just have to try this place and the prices are great
Had a great time over there !
Horses are in good conditions and well taken care of, the guides really adjust the rides to the level, I felt completely safe. It's one of the most beautiful ranch have seen for a while, for example, it's wooden fences and not ugly electricity cable. ... It's a family ranch that mean, they make you feel at home and not just another rider !
Enjoy :-)
Stayed here over the 2018 Thanksgiving long weekend for my girlfriend s birthday. We booked a 4 hour horse trail ride and a 1 night stay in the on-site cabin. What an amazing experience! The staff was friendly and helpful. The cabin was cozy and supplied with what we needed for the night. We even had a chance to take out the canoe on Lake Talon to enjoy the view.
Christine was our horse guide and she was great! I m not the most experienced horse rider however, she trusted that I can take it up a notch to ride the horse into a canter and a gallop. The trails were challenging which was also fun!
I would recommend to try this experience. If you can t deal with being outdoors and limited to resources like no wifi or electricity, then this place is not for you.
The instructors were fantastic and the trail was amazing. Had an amazing time!
vondoelersranch.com