Claireville Conservation Area

Nice enough place for a Horse Ride. I would think that an experienced horseback rider would not find experience that great since it is very limited what you can do with your own horse. The grounds are beautiful most of the year and if it is not too wet they do take you out on a nice path.
7 years ago (12-04-2018)

Almost 900 Acres of trails to hike, just minutes outside of Toronto. Hidden Gem! I love this place! If you visit here please take your trash out with you.
7 years ago (20-03-2018)

Best place for a hike. My dog loves it, and aswell as my family when we wanna go out for a stroll in nature
7 years ago (15-04-2018)

Okay trail, nothing exciting. Great for a first timer a bit expensive for what the offer, I have been to better horse back riding trail.
7 years ago (11-04-2018)

I went to Clareville to check out the trail riding facilities, which are situated down a dirt path (careful, it's full of pot holes!) in the Conservation Area. Considering it is only minutes from main roads, the whole place is beautifully peaceful and quiet, not surprisingly popular with hikers and dog walkers. There is a river, plenty of trails, wooded areas and fields. The Ranch from where they do the trail rides consists of a small cabin and an area where the horses are brought in to be matched with riders. You can't book ahead unless there are at least 10 people, I was told, and I found this strange, having come from the UK where that is the norm. On the plus side, however, what you do is turn up at least half an hour before the rides are due out (at this time of the year open weekends only, 1100 to 1600) and you are guaranteed a ride on the hour. Good things: the horses are brought up to steps so you can easily mount, even if you are very small (or young!). They appear happy and healthy and are generally responsive to both Western and English riding methods. The scenery is beautiful and we even got a few feet away from a large herd of deer during our ride. The trails are private to the Ranch so most of the ride is not shared with people walking etc. The saddles are really comfortable, as are the stirrups, as they are Western saddles. It is not compulsory to wear a riding hat, but you can hire one, which is fine, considering you won't be going very fast! That was my only bugbear really, the two of us who went out were both experienced riders, but we only had one small trot in the entire hour - a bit disappointing. It can be very busy in the Summer so I would still recommend going now before the 'circus riders' turn up lol. Regardless, if you love horses and want a quiet hour in the countryside, I would highly recommend it, hence the 'excellent' rating. I went back there for a Breakfast Ride for my birthday, which was two hours of riding plus a breakfast (ride for one hour then have an hour eating a full, fried and very tasty bacon, sausages, eggs etc, prepared outside by two very able cooks, then ride back to the centre. Just a couple of things I think could be improved on there - the breakfast only took about 20 minutes, so for 40 minutes people were just hanging around with nothing to do, quite boring. Secondly, there is no thought to considering whether people might need a visit to a washroom after their breakfast. Luckily no one did, but out in the middle of nowhere (understandably) there is no opportunity. Remember to go in the portaloo before your ride!
7 years ago (07-03-2018)