Best Horse Riding in Canada — Our Top 15

1.Rafting Adventure on the Kicking Horse River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 590 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) · from $82Our pick

Choose a 3 to 6.5-hour rafting trip on Golden’s Kicking Horse River. Guides such as Austin, Ryan, Steffi, and Nico lead boats through Class III and IV rapids, with gear, shuttle service, and lunch on selected tours.

“Glacier Rafting Co's longevity speaks for itself, so I will just add my two cents on top. The booking process was simple and the available options were explained well. Immediately upon arriving at the home base we were greeted on site and you can just tell that the staff love what they do. The vibe was high, every one we spoke with was eager to help and make sure we were set up for an incredible experience. The introduction/tutorial was professional but also fun, not the kind your eyes glaze over for! The rafting itself was a blast! Mauri was our guide, and he was not only a great teacher,…”

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2.Stanley Park Horse Drawn Tour in Vancouver

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 550 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $48

See Stanley Park from a horse-drawn carriage on a one-hour ride led by guides such as Steph and Emily. Follow Park Drive past the Seawall, yacht club, totem poles, Girl in a Wetsuit Statue, and Lion’s Gate Bridge views. The carriage stops briefly for photos, making this a fine choice if walking is difficult.

“Excellent overview of the park with informative commentary from our driver, Steph. One stop at the totems where there is also a comprehensive gift shop (not enough time to do both during the tour). Much better price through Viator than through the park for the same tour.”

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3.Banff National Park: 1-Hour Bow River Horseback Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 518 reviews · 1 hour · from $78

Meet your horse at Banff Trail Riders’ red stables, learn basic riding skills, then follow the Bow River past Cave and Basin Hot Springs. Guides such as Sarah, Jade, and Steph share local stories while lead and tail guides keep the group together. The ride suits beginners age 8 and older.

“So worth it!!! We got a good lesson prior & were able to connect with our horses. I had Mustad and he was such a gentle, sweet boy! Overall, my partner & I 100% recommend this activity! Our guide Flossy(I hope I spelt that correctly) was so sweet & taught us so much!”

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4.Banff National Park: 1-Hour Spray River Horseback Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 315 reviews · 1 hour · from $83

Ride for one hour from the Spray River Corrals near Banff Springs Hotel. Guides such as Samantha, Sam, Summer, Ki, and Liv provide basic instruction and lead you across the Spray River, past Bow Falls and the Fairmont golf course. No riding experience is required, but long pants and sturdy closed-toe shoes are.

“Had a great tour and lovely experience horseback riding through Spray River!”

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5.Whitewater Rafting Adventure | Kicking Horse River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 291 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $123

You’ll raft 20 km of the Kicking Horse River with Hydra River Guides, beginning on calm Class I water before tackling Class IV rapids. Certified guides such as Jaro, Kyle, Bill, and Fabian lead the trip in English. Wetsuits, jackets, shoes, paddles, hot showers, and snacks at base make this a practical first rafting adventure.

“Cannot recommend this experience enough! We found out whilst we were there that this company starts further up the river to all others, meaning that you get a longer ride. All of the staff were also lovely, and took great care of us. Would absolutely do it again.”

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6.Family Friendly Horse-Drawn Sleigh Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 237 reviews · 40 min · from $39Best value

Ride beneath wool blankets through Banff’s mountain meadows with views of Rundle and Cascade mountains. Guides such as Grace and Brooklyn share local stories, while elk and deer may appear. Finish with hot chocolate or cider by the fire. Snow conditions may mean a wagon ride instead.

“Fabulous activity- they catered for all needs and made the best out of not perfect weather! We were offered contingency plans well in advanced and emailed and then phoned to check this was okay! Absolutely top service. Our guides were amazing and so great with our kids!”

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7.Ridge Ride 2-Hour Horseback Trail Ride in Kananaskis

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 194 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $151

Ride from Boundary Ranch into the Kananaskis backcountry for two hours at a walking pace. Guides such as Sarah, Diego, Paige, Fran, and Abigail lead small groups of up to eight past forest, wetlands, a mountain ridge, wildlife habitat, and a teepee used in The Revenant. Beginners and experienced riders are welcome.

“Guide was great and very informative. They go rain or shine, but they have rain wear available. There is a nice little gift shop on site and quaint coffee shop.”

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8.Buffalo Loop 1-Hour Horseback Trail Ride in Kananaskis

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 152 reviews · 1 hour (approx.) · from $77

Ride at a walking pace through wooded Kananaskis trails with an experienced guide, passing Boundary Ranch’s buffalo paddock and watching for deer, elk, marmots, and squirrels. Gentle horses, a six-year minimum age, and small groups make this a calm first ride. Guides may include Jordan, Emily, or Emma.

“Awesome, just awesome. First time on a horse and frst time riding a horse! Beautiful experience with great guides, horses, and trail(s) . Highly recommended (even if you have to go solo!) :)”

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9.2 Hour Banff Horseback Riding Adventure

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 145 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $160

Spend about two hours on horseback along Banff’s Sundance Loop, following the Bow River, passing Cave and Basin, and climbing wooded trails toward Windy Knoll. Lead and tail guides offer basic instruction and keep the ride safe. It suits beginners and children 8 and older, with a strict 230-pound limit.

“The young lady giving riding directions was a sourpuss-she acted like she hated her job and the guests. Maybe she’s been dealing with tourists for too long, but hey, it’s her job, and it tinged the whole experience. Some advice: smile once in a while and fake it, you’re in the hospitality industry. Our two ride guides were more personable, but we were too far back in line to hear any of the lead guide’s commentary for most of the ride. The horses were beautiful, well trained animals.”

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10.Golden, BC: Kicking Horse River Half Day Whitewater Rafting

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 141 reviews · 3 hours · from $72

Spend three hours rafting 12 km of the Kicking Horse River near Golden with an experienced English-speaking guide. Expect changing rapids, a thrilling 1 km Portage Shotgun section, Rocky Mountain views, bus transport, gear, and a drink afterward.

“Fabulous stretch of river with lots if different rapids. A nice break in the middle as well. Really well organised, great pictures and lots of parking.”

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11.Banff National Park: 2-Hour Sundance Loop Horseback Ride

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 128 reviews · 2 hours · from $152

Ride from Warner Stables along the Bow River, past Cave and Basin and natural hot springs, through marshland, and up Sulphur Mountain to Windy Knoll. You get basic riding help, a helmet, free parking, and guides who explain the horses, plants, wildlife, and scenery. English only.

“Great well treated horses, excellent guides, nice helpful staff, lessons for newbies, and beautiful scenery too”

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12.Wagon Ride with Cowboy Cookout BBQ

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 116 reviews · 3 hours · from $109

Spend three hours with Banff Trail Riders on a horse-drawn wagon ride along the Bow River and Sulphur Mountain Trail. Guides such as Sydney, Casey, Anna, and Mike lead the outing, while a cooked-to-order steak, campfire, lassoing, and horseshoes make the remote 3 Mile Cabin stop more than a simple scenic ride.

“We had a great time on our Wagon trip,we even saw a bear.Our guides were very polite,informative and funny.The meal we had was excellent and we all sat down together chatting.We had a go at the lassoing(so much fun).Out trip was on the 2ndJune2024.”

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13.Beacon Hill Park Horse-Drawn Carriage Experience in Victoria

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 100 reviews · 1 hour (approx.)

Spend about an hour with a uniformed guide and a gentle draft horse, touring Beacon Hill Park, Mile Zero, the Salish Sea waterfront, and James Bay. Private carriages hold up to four, with blankets, a convertible roof, and lantern-lit evening rides. Guides such as Ursula and Tyler are known for warm, engaging storytelling.

“Remi! We loved hearing about Victoria’s history. We ate at The Bent Mast at our driver’s recommended and it was amazing!”

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14.Extreme Whitewater Rafting on Kicking Horse River

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 77 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $101

Take a four-hour afternoon rafting trip through the upper and middle Kicking Horse River with Kootenay River Runners. Guides such as Ben lead you through class 3 and 4 rapids, with instruction, wetsuit, booties, and river gear included. Bring lunch for a picnic at the private basecamp.

“Great family fun. Guides very easy going and very professional. Food was delicious. Highly recommended for first timers.”

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15.Heritage Horse-Drawn Carriage Experience in Victoria

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 68 reviews · 30 minutes (approx.)

Take a private 30-minute horse-drawn carriage ride from Belleville Street through James Bay, Old Town, and past Carr House. Your uniformed guide shares Victoria’s colonial past, while horses such as Clay, Remy, or Ace set an easy pace. Blankets and a convertible roof help in cool or damp weather.

“This was a great tour, and a great price! Our tour guides Chantelle and Ace (the horse) were great! It was a beautiful experience for my family to see a bit of downtown Victoria!”

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