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A Day in the Life
explains. The sky was blue when he headed
out with the pack horse, but it rained again.
“I went from soaking wet to nearly dry and
then soaking wet again in under three hours.”
MacLaine stresses how important it is to
always pack rain gear — even if you don’t see
rain in the forecast.
Riders and horses break for lunch around
12:30 p.m., before continuing on the trail.
“Regardless of weather, the scenery is
always stunning and beautifully dramatic,”
he says.
As a guide, MacLaine draws attention to
the area’s local ecology and history, pointing
out interesting flora and fauna on the trail.
Many hours are also filled with conversation
amongst the riders — and while taboo topics
like politics and religion can come up, it tends
to inspire positive dialogue.
“There is something special about wild
spaces that bring people together, and remind
them that we’re all, largely, just trying to do
our best and make it through life with good
friends and good times,” MacLaine notes.
MacLaine has seen plenty of animal
tracks on rides, but they don’t always lead to
spotting wildlife. On a particularly remote
stretch on a 2023 ride, MacLaine saw fresh
grizzly tracks — and accompanying cub tracks.
As the group rode into a meadow, they came
across the bear and her cubs.
“They were about 80 metres away, so I
just chatted with the grizzly, so she knew we
were horses with riders, not just horses,” he
explains. “The horses stayed relaxed enough
to take it as a break and graze.” Thankfully,
the grizzlies headed back into the bush and
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Alberta Bits Summer 2025
Alberta Bits Summer 2025
“
 It’s an occupation
that you pursue for
the lifestyle, not the
paycheque.”
— Robert MacLaine
the group gave them some clearance before
carrying on.
“We had a lovely lunch under blue skies.
But heading back out of the meadow, you
have to stay aware, relative to the tree line
and vegetation, because you don’t know
where that grizzly went.”
After arriving at camp around 5 p.m.,
horse care is the first priority: brushed, given
some scratches and then set loose to graze
while the campfire is started and dinner is
prepared. The meals on Moose Mountain
Horseback Adventures’ trips are always
cooked fresh over the campfire, using locally-
sourced organic pork and beef, and fresh
fruits and vegetables. After that, the horses
are brought to the river for an evening drink
while guests socialize around the campfire or
retire to read or write in their travel journals.
“We as guides usually go to our sleeping
arrangements within ear shot of the horses
around 10 or 10:30 p.m., and hopefully all
is well and you don’t get woken up in the
night by horses. Wild horses flirt with the
mares or try to start fights. You have to listen
for any indication the horses are being silly,”
MacLaine says with a laugh.
Regardless of one’s level of experience,
trail riding offers riders a chance to connect
with horses, wildlife and other riders.
“There are several different ways to pack
a horse, let alone explore the backcountry
and trails, so get out there, ask questions,
be open and find what works best for you
and your horse. Make good decisions and
consider your horse’s well-being before any
trail objective.”