The story of how Tranquil Woods Trail Rides came to be is the story of Jamie’s lifelong love of horses;

“My cousin’s pony, Misty, was the first equine I ever sat on. My cousin would tack her up and lead me around their yard. I asked constantly to go back to the farm to see and ride Misty again.

A friend and I got to go for a week to summer riding camp. I officially learned how to start, stop and steer a horse named Chuck. There was an 8 week riding lesson special that was offered to anyone who participated in camp. I begged my parents to sign me up for 8 more weeks. They agreed but that was all they said. I ended up having weekly lessons for the next 8 years.

During those 8 years I focused on learning everything I could in English riding. I dabbled in many different disciplines including dressage and hunter/jumpers. I competed minimally during in-barn schooling shows and a few off property show experiences. Competing proved to be too stressful for me, my pleasure with riding came from the time spent with the horses. As I became a more proficient rider I was given more responsibilities around the barn. I was tasked with keeping many of the school horses tuned up, and getting the “sillies” out of them for their lessons with some of the younger riders. I had the incredible privilege of helping to rehabilitate my coaches show horse after an injury which remains a passion of mine to this day.

The time came to go to University and I had to make the difficult decision to leave the equine world for a time due to lack of time and money. I studied Kinesiology for 4 years at York University followed by 2 years of massage therapy at the Canadian College of Massage and Hydrotherapy. During my time at school I greatly missed the therapeutic and stress relieving qualities that I used to get from being around and riding horses in my younger years.

I passed my board exams and entered the work force as a registered massage therapist. I spent 3 years in the field of massage therapy in several different capacities. My favourite being sports injuries. My massage career was cut short by a once in a lifetime opportunity to join the corporate world as an accounting coordinator for a point of sale printing company. Though not one of my passions it taught me about business management and finance. I remained in the corporate world for the next 9 years and through the arrival of both of my children.

Promotions and added responsibilities along with my responsibilities as a partner and parent were challenging to my mental health. I struggled with post-partum depression after the birth of both of my children and was eventually diagnosed with generalized anxiety with compulsive tendencies. My neighbour and friend asked if I would like to join her on a trail ride one day and I eagerly accepted. I found myself once again drawn in by the therapeutic benefits of horses. After a few more trail sporadic visits to trail I realized that I wanted to educate myself more about these majestic animals. I found a lesson barn and jumped back into a weekly lesson routine. Then the Covid pandemic shut everything down.

As soon as restrictions were lifted I was the first person back to lessons at the barn. I ended up being packaged out of my accounting role in the printing company and wasn’t sure what to do next. As I suspected the answers were waiting for me at the barn and presented themselves while I was riding in one of my lessons. My coach at the time suggested that I start teaching others how to ride at the barn, to share my passion for horses with others. It was my dream job! More lockdowns forced me to split my coaching time between different riding facilities. I also became the administrative assistant at a well known riding academy.

During my time at the riding academy my sports injury rehabilitation skills were recognized and put to good use. I helped to rehabilitate many horses one of which would become the first ever horse I have owned, Diesel.

I have since coached and managed the health and welfare of equines at several different riding facilities and camps. I was ready for a new challenge and Diesel was finally ready to have a full time job again.

On a long drive the idea of Tranquil Woods Trail Rides started to form. I had an end goal in mind for a trail riding company but I wasn’t quite sure how or where to start. I ran my ideas past a few close friends and family. After realizing I had to start small and work my way toward the bigger picture I started out by purchasing a trailer to get the horses from where they were living to the trails I wanted to ride on. I then purchased a truck to pull the trailer with. Next I bought a sweet hearted mare, Q and a been there, done that gelding, RJ. Rounding off my herd at four horses I bought one of my favourite old school horses to teach with, Manny.

With all the equipment, horses and transportation in place I created a website and got to work marketing and filling as many riding appointments as I could. It quickly became apparent that Diesel was not a huge fan of riding back and forth from the trails in the trailer.

Always with the best interest of my horses in mind I began my quest to acquire a property close enough to the trails that we could walk to them. Several potential facilities were vetted for feasibility and many were turned down or not acquired for various reasons. Determined to find the right space for the business to grow into I went out for a drive one day. I came across a property that was not currently in use and took a stab in the dark that the owner would let me keep my horses across the street from the forest entrance. As luck would have it they agreed and Tranquil Woods officially had a home at our McCowan Road location.

We have added to the infrastructure of the property over time, making it easier to care for our horses. New herd members have been added and sadly we have had to say goodbye to others. Each horse that has called Tranquil Woods Trail Rides their home is and will forever be loved and part of our family. We strive to make each one of our guests feel like a part of this family too.

It is our goal for each guest that comes to ride that you leave us with a greater sense of peace and quiet in your soul, a heightened respect for the kind, gentle, powerful animals that horses are, and a desire to have more regular contact with horses and nature.”

With our most sincere thanks for booking a ride with us we welcome you to Tranquil Woods!