Camp Canada

I was excited yet a touch anxious as I drove along the rolling hills of Renfrew County toward Horse Country Campground in Foresters Falls, a 1½ hour drive northwest of Ottawa, Ontario. It was the first time my husband, Joe, and his Belgian/Paint Horse cross gelding, Major, would be joining me on a horse-camping trip, and I wanted everything to be perfect.

I chose a September weekend when the weather is typically cool in the region. We’d postponed our trip for a week after Horse Country’s official Fall-Colours (as we Canadians spell “colors”) Ride in the hope that Mother Nature would bring cooler temperatures and more vibrant color, but the area was still experiencing summer’s warmth. (For information on fall-color riding at Horse Country, see page 59.)

Resort Camping

Horse Country Campground (horsecountrycampground.com) is situated in the scenic Ottawa Valley along the Ottawa River, which runs between eastern Ontario and Quebec. Resort amenities make for a comfortable getaway with your horse no matter your experience level.

Horse Country is a membership-based, community campground partnered with Wilderness Tours Resort, a 6,000-acre outdoor-adventure and whitewater-rafting destination along the banks of the Ottawa River. This model allows you to purchase, lease, or rent campsites for a time period