Meet Our Cayuses

Most of our horses are from Mt Currie or the Lil’wat Nation, where they spent their early years running free learning the ways of the British Columbia wilderness. They go by several names, Lil’wat Range Horses, Mt Currie Cayuse, or Lil’wat Cayuse. We just call them our Mt Currie boys.

We usually get our horses when they are between two and three years old, and it takes us about two to three years to train them. We have over 35 trained cayuses that work between our locations, each with their own distinct personality. To ensure an enjoyable experience for all, we match the guest’s riding ability and level of experience to the spirit and character of the horse. I hope you enjoy learning a bit about each of our boys, (that’s right there are no mares) because they are indeed our family.

Working Herd

  • genuinely graceful mix, Ty is one of our smoothest horses. Long-legged and gaited, Ty is a smooth ride at any gait, and this smoothness is appreciated by all that ride him. Specializing in our ranch rides, you often find Ty at full tilt in the field.

  • Pan is one of our newest entrants into the string and is being ridden predominantly by our wranglers to finalize his training. Curious and affectionate, Pan is a real pet, and is regularly the first to come investigate. When not working, Pan is often seen prancing around in the field, showing off his good looks!

  • Trained as a jumping horse in his earlier years, Whiskey came to the ranch when he was 8, and quickly became a rock-solid choice for backcountry riding. Since then, he has carried many kids to all corners of our tenure, and is our most requested horse for returning guests.

  • Rufio is one of two paints that we have at the ranch and comes from a distinct line in the Mt. Currie herd. Firey at first, Rufio has since settled right down and become an exceptionally forward-going lead horse for our wranglers. What he lacks in stature, he more than makes up for in personality.

  • Lonesome is a cornerstone of our mountain string. Wide-set, strong and independent, Lonesome is everything you want from a mountain horse. Often found alongside his brother Rocky, Lonesome is no stranger to our backcountry trails, truly knowing them like the back of his hoof!

  • Smokey is regularly called our best kids horse, mainly due to the fact he once carried a sleeping kid halfway down the mountain without letting him fall! Whilst we don't recommend our guests fall asleep on the ride, Smokey is the perfect companion for novice and nervous riders of all ages.

  • The younger brother of Nipper, Ridge is another of our best kid-friendly horses. Like his brother, Ridge is extremely experienced on the trail and has still got plenty of pep in his step for more experienced riders.

  • Pepper by name, pepper by nature, this horse has got some fire. Perfect for our intermediate and advanced guests, Pepper is as forward-going and responsive as it gets. Happy to lead or follow, he promises a wonderful experience for those looking for an exciting ride.

  • Mickey is one of our Mt. Currie warmbloods. Noted for his majestic mane, Mickey is great for all riding abilities and is a fan favourite amongst our regular guests. Mickey can often be found bossing the other horses around with his best buddy, Gus.

  • Nipper is our oldest horse and one of our primary kids' horses. His vast experience on the trails both at the ranch and in the backcountry means that he is as solid as a horse can get. His distinctive wavy mane and greying hair are proof that Nipper is aging like a fine wine.

  • Reno is our only pure Quarter-horse at the ranch and is regularly requested by return guests, due to his smoothness and responsiveness. His buckskin coat means he changes colour with the seasons, making him a unique horse in the herd.

  • One of the main lead horses at the ranch, Captain has spent the 3 years since finishing his training leading a large number of our overnight trips. The distinctive star on his face is the shape of the Calgary Flames logo, but you don’t have to be a fan to enjoy what this horse has to offer!

  • Max ‘the Couch’ is one of our veteran horses, and is credited with helping to train most of the herd as it now stands. The ultimate ‘uncle horse’, Max has spent his years on the trail carrying even the most unwilling Dads, husbands and boyfriends, quickly converting them into lifelong horse lovers.

  • Harking back to the era of the Morgan gene pool in the Mt. Currie herd, Cliff is a doppelganger of Max. Cliff’s curious attitude and love of chin scratches mean he is warming up to people well, and his training has progressed well in the later stages of the season. It won’t be long before he is with his buddies on the trail.

  • Logan is one of our specialist ranch horses, specializing in the 1 and 2-hour rides. His calm nature and laid-back attitude make him perfect for someone who is riding for the first time. His dun colouring stands out and makes for a great horse for photos.

  • Owned by our horse trainer Brian, Guinness is not ridden by our guests but this doesn’t make him any less part of the herd. His distinctive looks make him look like a Disney prince’s horse, and you can be sure to see him on our trails with Brian regularly throughout the season.

  • The other of our two ‘Dalmatians’, Dakota is the older brother to Caddy. Originally the pack horse to Caddy before coming to the ranch, Dakota has seen it all and is no stranger to carrying guests of all abilities on our wide range of trails.

  • Buster was brought to the ranch in 2020 and was quickly admired by all for his good looks. He settled right into mountain horse life, being described by several guests as ‘the perfect gentleman’. This calm and gentle giant is a welcome companion for those seeking a backcountry adventure.

  • Bevis is a purebred Canadian, a breed of horse that the RCMP gifted to Queen Elizabeth II in 2012, and was known to be one of her favourite horses. Bevis follows suit, blowing guests away with his responsiveness and forward-going attitude. Naturally collected, he is a photogenic old soul and is living his golden years at our ranch.

  • Billy is the youngest of our 4-year-old, and could not even be touched when we first got him. With a lot of patience and care, he is now being handled regularly and can be packed and saddled without issue. Once Billy comes around to his training, he will certainly be an all-star in the herd.

  • Gus ‘the Bus’ is one of our best ‘uncle’ horses, used to train our young Mt. Currie boys. The calm and relaxed nature that makes him so adept at helping to train the young horses transfers to the trail as well, where he is perfect for the nervous or first-time rider.

  • Cute as a Biscuit, and as round as one, Biscuit is certainly quite the character. One of our shorter horses, Biscuit is built for mountain travel, with built-in All Wheel Drive courtesy of a truly square stature. His feisty personality makes him an excellent ride both in the mountains and at the ranch, so don’t let his short size fool you!

  • Another of our Mt. Currie boys, Bingo is one of our most recent introductions to our guest horse string. Bingo is known for exhibiting ‘flehmen’, lifting his upper lip to get a good smell of the tasty treat being offered to him.

  • The second of our two paints, Moose is truly a striking horse. Tall and long-legged, he is shaping up to be one of the largest horses at the ranch.

    Coming from running quarter-horse stock in the Mt. Currie herd, Moose is sure to be a guest favourite once he has finished his training.

  • Pat, another of our up-and-comers, is progressing well with his training and is currently being ridden by our wranglers to finalize his progression. Pat is a gentle giant on the ground and is becoming calmer with every ride, but also has some pep in his step once the pace picks up. He promises to be a keeper with what we’ve seen so far.

  • An unsung hero of our horses-in-training, Angus has progressed extremely well with his training thus far. Arriving at the ranch 9 months ago with no training, Angus has been ridden all over our tenure and is shaping up to be an amazing ride.

  • So named for his friendly nature as a young colt, Amigo excelled as a lead horse in his first summer working. A younger relative of Gus, Amigo exhibits the sensibilities of a level-headed horse, but with a forward-going attitude, he has captured the hearts of all the wranglers that have ridden him.

  • Mellow is, as his name suggests, pretty Mellow. Another of our new introductions to the guest string, Mellow is perfect if you are looking for a surefooted, laid-back ride. His playful nature means he can often be found playing around in the backfield with the other Mt. Currie boys

  • Red is one of our newest acquisitions, being picked up from Grand Forks, BC in 2021. Since arriving at the ranch, Red has become a staff favourite due to his agility and adaptability.

  • Lightning is another one of our newest additions from the Mount Currie herd. He is what we consider “born broke”, meaning he transitioned from an unhandled, wild colt to accepting human touch & riders on his back quite quickly and seamlessly. He is already confidently leading the pack on training rides around the ranch and will soon experience our backcountry trails as well. He boasts a unique coat colour (buckskin paint) and exceptionally cuddly nature, and we don’t doubt he will soon become a fan-favourite in the herd.

  • Meet Finn, a spirited two-year-old colt with standout qualities. Despite his young age, Finn's remarkable size sets him apart, with potential to grow even larger (as large as our boy Guinness).

    Initially showing a hint of rebellion, Finn has quickly proved his worth, finding his stride and displaying a keen attitude and innate abilities.

    Fun Fact: Finn got his name from a naming contest we ran on our Instagram account (congrats Sam!)

  • Rocky is another cornerstone of our mountain string, having been a regular on our backcountry trips since he finished his training 9 years ago. Perfectly proportioned, he promises an exceptional ride for every experience level, young or old. He is a true Mt. Currie mountain horse, and will not disappoint.

  • One of our two ‘Dalmatians’, Caddy is one of our most forward-going horses, with exceptional endurance, allowing him to keep up with much bigger horses. Push-button and responsive, Caddy is perfect for a confident beginner, and even the most accomplished of riders will appreciate this horse’s willingness.

  • Oscar is our biggest horse and has lived at the ranch his whole life. His mother was sold to the German National Equestrian team, and he was brought to the ranch when he was only 5 weeks old. Oscar is most often found on our backcountry rides, where his strength, power and forward-going nature make him a favourite of beginners and advanced riders alike.

  • Meet Bert, the companion to Earnie in our equine duo, both of whom bear no resemblance to their Muppet namesakes, and, we hope, exhibit none of their antics. 3 year old Bert epitomizes the ideal mountain horse build: compact, well-proportioned, and sturdy. Poised to make a significant contribution to our herd, Bert embodies the qualities we seek in our equine companions.

  • Introducing Earnie, a striking bay adorned by a distinct white splotch on his forehead, amidst our growing bay population. Earnie, at the tender age of two, already stands as tall as Doc despite being a year younger. Anticipated to reach a substantial 16 and 1/2 hands at maturity, Earnie promises to be a sizable presence in our herd.

  • Elvis is one of our upcoming stars, currently in the final stages of his training. Nicknamed ‘whatever’, this horse's laid-back attitude and calmness mean he is likely to become an exceptional uncle horse. His distinctive mane and coloration mean this horse is worthy to share the name of the King!

  • Thunder arrived at the ranch in January 2023 from the local Mt Currie herd. He has a curious and friendly disposition but took a bit longer than his buddy Lightning to warm up to human handling. He continues to prove himself as an exceptional mountain horse and is becoming more accepting of human interactions as his training progresses. We look forward to seeing how he evolves in his training this summer with our wranglers on both our trails around the ranch & in our backcountry tenure

  • This beauty is Doc, aptly named for his discerning nature evident in the keen gaze of his eyes and his composed reactions to his surroundings. He shares the same calm disposition as his full brother, Thunder, whom we acquired earlier this spring. Witnessing Thunder's transformation from an untrained colt to confidently carrying guests by season's end was truly remarkable. We have full confidence that he will follow in Thunder's impressive hoofprints.

Cayuse Alumni

  • Ringo is another of our long-standing veterans and was ridden by CCO Partner Don for many years, helping him break in new trails and discover secrets in our tenure. In his golden years of work, Ringo was an adept kids' horse; perfect companion for beginners and nervous riders looking for a steadfast ride.

    Ringo is now retired, enjoy his remaining years relaxing.

    Thank you for your hard work over the years Ringo!

  • An extremely experienced backcountry horse, Duke spent many years as a pack horse for a local hunter. During his 7 years at the ranch, Duke excelled at packing our guests all around our tenure and enjoyed his golden years down at the ranch, carrying guests both young and old on our shorter rides.

    Duke is now retired, enjoy his remaining years relaxing.

    Thank you for your hard work over the years Duke!