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Veteran
Posts: 116
| I'm looking to move to Alberta, Canada in the next couple of months to get a full-time job, and bring my horses with me.
To those of you who have lived in, or been in Alberta for some time..
Where are the best towns for having horses, and with many other barrel racers/rodeo people?
Also, somewhere not to expensive for rent, board etc.
Was planning on taking a road trip out that way once spring comes to check out where I like best as well. :)
Thanks for any help! |
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 Mature beyond Years
Posts: 10780
  
Location: North of the 49th Parallel | Anywhere really. Central Alberta is where most of the barrel races are. It depends what you do for a job (ie do you need to be in a small town or city). I'm in Calgary and either keep my horse north of the city in Madden/Airdrie or SE of the city in Carseland/Strathmore. There's usually barrel races in High River, Airdrie, Crossfield, Olds sometimes Cochrane but this summer I'll probably haul more north to Stettler/Ponoka. Stettler/Ponoka always have races (huge indoor, standard pattern). If you have any questions about Calgary feel free to PM me. |
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Mature beyond Years
Posts: 10780
Location: North of the 49th Parallel | Oh and... winters suck here. Really suck. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1196
Location: Wide open spaces, Canada. | There is a lot of barrel racing in central alberta ..... Ponoka , settler, thorsby area . And claresholm seems to have lots of horse things on the go as well . As mentioned above winters here really suck so living close to a public indoor riding arena can make or break your experience. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 852
| Definitely agree with the previous 2 ladies!!! Ponoka/Stetter/Thorsby area have good selection of races. I live just east of Edmonton and there are quite a few around here as well. Keep in mind, depending where you are coming from, that our idea of "close" and yours may be different. I know most people around here think that a jackpot within a 1.5-2 hours is relatively close, and I know people coming from other areas think that's absurd lol!!
As for winters, yup, they are tough, and yes, an indoor arena is a huge benefit! When looking for somewhere to board, be sure to ask what their policy on working barrels is....when I boarded at stables, there were some that wouldn't allow it. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | I live in ne alberta..3hours from Edmonton and 6 hours to calgary...my closest jackpot in the winter is 1.5 hours which is nothing to me..lol....in the summer I have one thats about 45 min...board by the bigger cities is going to cost you dearly......rent is nasty is our area right now 1500 for a room......so if u come this way pm me I will try and help you outM |
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 Veteran
Posts: 231
| I live in ponoka and it's great!!!!!!! Great little town but still close enough to the city to go shopping or out for the night. Ponoka has a beautiful indoor arena with lots of barrel races and lots of open riding time.
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 Regular
Posts: 56
Location: Alberta | I agree with everyone above. I live in east central Alberta and I go to Stettler in the winter when the jackpots aren't cancelled because of the cold. Its about 1/2 drive for me. There is also a good series being put on this summer down at Crossfield at Irvine Tack and Trailers. That is a 3 hour drive for me. But if you are around going to be close to Ponoka the arena there is beautiful I love running there. I have to agree with the boarding the closer you are to a major city the more its going to cost you to board horses. Even ask around and see if there is a barrel racer in your area that would be willing to let you board your horse at their place. Make sure you have lots of really warm clothes for the winter! |
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 Regular
Posts: 95
| I live west of Red Deer and it's pretty decent around here, too. This winter they've been having regular jackpots in Penhold and there are quite a few indoor arenas around here that you can haul/board in the winter. The nice thing about where I live is that it's not too far to go north to Thorsby or Ponoka, but it's also not that far if I want to go to Crossfield or somewhere else to the south. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Alberta is pretty oilfield orientated.
It depends on what type of job you are looking for, if you want to purchase land, or if you are boarding.
Central Alberta there are quite a few jackpots, as ponoka, and thorsby are great indoor arenas that have jackpots winter and into the summer. Stettler has jackpots pretty much year round.
For boarding barns, most are English, there is one by penhold, the arena is small but board is reasonable. Red deer is 20 min away where you should be able to find a job either in retail or serving industry.
Rent I think is around 1200-1500 for an apartment, or condo in Red Deer, Calgary is more money, and Edmonton varies depending on the location.
As people say weather is different, we have 40 below here, and this year have had record snowfalls which have caused recreation arenas dairy barns and riding arenas to collapse.
Our insurance system is different for vehicles and rather high so there is that expense.
I love it in Alberta, I do find the pace is faster, there is a lot of oil money, so these people work hard and party harder, May long weekend is crazy as this is the beginning of summer for us even if it snows everyone is camping, quadding, boating, etc.
There is a barrel race every weekend during the summer there are some that have a wonderful payout and prizes to boot. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
Location: London Ontario | As someone from Ontario, I say if you are moving up here, go West. The insurance is cheaper then Ontario, the pay is more as well but so is the cost of living. Diesel seems about the same, but I hear is is much cheaper to own a horse out there. I want to move out there too!! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1066
| I love living in Alberta and have lived everywhere from Grand Prairie and Fort Mac, to Lethbridge, and South of Medicine Hat (and LOTS of places in between haha). Now that Im married my husband and I live about 20 minutes East of Olds, and I love it here. I feel like Im pretty much right in the centre of barrel racer land as 90% of the time there is somewhere to go every weekend without travelling more than an hour (+/-). I can go south to High River and Airdrie, East to Stettler, into the little series in Olds, or North to Ponoka... all of these towns have frequent events, so its pretty much just up to me what kind of set up I want to run in.
Depending on where you go rent can vary. In my travels I have found that its usually a lot cheaper to live in/near a small town versus a city, but your job options are more limited then. Before I was married I worked as a heavy equipment operator, or in a feedlot... I was a bit of a wild child so I moved wherever the wind would take me, but work was always pretty easy for me to find as both of my industries were pretty much booming. Depending on what sort of board you're looking for there are options all over if you know the right people... again, it depends on where you want to go.
Where are you moving from? |
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Veteran
Posts: 116
| Thank you so much! Your all amazing! :D
I am moving from BC. Surrounded by lakes and mountains which is nice, but I'm really ready for change and love the prairies! Plus where I live there isn't much when it comes to barrel racing and rodeo.
I will look into Ponoka, Olds, Stettler and all those areas as it sounds like they are pretty good for barrel racing!
I am hoping to get a job as a stablehand/assistant trainer or ranch hand somewhere, and would be happy to find a roommate to cut rent costs down. At the ponoka arena, do they board horses as well? In the winter I'd definitely like to be at or near an indoor to be able to ride.. Not going to enjoy the Albertan winters so much but I'm sure I will survive ;)
Thank you all again, I will keep looking into it, and hopefully figure something out soon :) |
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