Inspire horsemanship

Inspire Horsemanship really is THE must go adventure in Merritt. My wife and I booked a 3 hour ride this May long weekend and we weren't disappointed. We showed up 30 minutes prior to our booking and were greeted by Jordan and four wonderful horses. Once we left the barn we had a good opportunity to hear Jordan's story of how she got started with her business partnership with the local First Nations Band, and the values she brings to the table really create a great community exchange. Merritt has a rich history that deserves to be told, and what better place to hear the story than on horseback while taking in the amazing views. Prices for riding are very reasonable, and lunch was included in our ride. Merritt's weather pattern is nice since even on a hot day there is a steady breeze. The location is great too, not even 5 minutes from the heart of town. The property Inspire Horsemanship operates from is very accessible, with a short gravel driveway that's easy to spot, and we'll maintained. It's clear from talking to Jordan that Inspire Horsemanship is a business that Merritt as a community truly wants to see succeed. But don't let the young age of this business fool you - Jordan is a seasoned horse trainer and definitely knows what she's doing. My wife and I booked horse riding lessons later in the day of our morning ride, and I started with the very basics of communicating to my horse the direction I intended on going. Jordan really adapted her explanation of what she was telling me to do rather than just repeating the same things over and over when I was having trouble applying what I was being instructed to do. Merritt being in the middle of prime road trip territory, it's hard to say no to the opportunity to book either a short riding session, or even a lesson, while really taking in the sights of interior BC that you won't get to see from the highway. And while you're out in the wilderness, you can definitely feel confident that you're safe. Jordan provided my wife and I with helmets as well as assuring us of her first aid training, on top of having a second wrangler on our ride who happened to be a trained paramedic. Besides, the roads into the extensive riding trails are accessible by vehicle in the event of an emergency. There were literally ZERO concerns as far as our safety was involved. Inspire horsemanship is also setup well for photographing our ride, which is great since you can really just focus on enjoying the ride without worrying about not being able to take photos. While photos are a great way to remember an experience, it's far more enjoyable to take in the scenery with the naked eye than from behind a lens. Shortly after our ride, Jordan sent us a bunch of great photos that we'll always have to look back on.

We took our daughter and grandson (age 8) for a trail ride and they loved it! The horses were perfect for inexperienced riders and Jordan and her crew were very professional. Beautiful country and great memories. Owen wants to do it again next year!

We had an amazing time. The horses were so well mannered, or guide was very knowledgeable and helpful. Would highly recommend for those that want some great views and a relaxing ride.

This was the highlight for my daughter on our quick trip to the interior. Friendly professional staff made the experience great. Also to note was “Bert” the friendliest 20 year old barn cat you’ll ever meet! Thanks!

We went for the horse trail ride with grouping of two families in early August. Although there is a dusty road of 8 km long getting to the place, the trail surrounding Surrey Lake is stunning. Jordan and her assistant are kind enough to lead our group by walking at the start and at the end for the entire trail ride to accommodate our young child and inexperienced rider. It was a truly memorable one for all of us and we very much look forward to come back to this place again by next summer!

It was our first time riding horses and overall we had a great experience at Inspire. Jordan was amazing and so patient answering all the questions our curious 7 year old was wondering about. I got to ride Cheyenne who was a bit cheeky and kept wandering off to eat (think she took advantage of me not being assertive enough ?). The scenery was also very beautiful. I would definitely recommend.

Hands down one of the greatest horseriding adventure I've been on, and definitely the best thing to do in Merritt. If you're driving through the area and have a few hours to spare - you should definitely spend that time here riding around this incredible landscape. I did the Beach Trail and with a great time under my belt, came back for a second full day to do the Cougar Trail, it made such a positive impression on me. Owner Jordon is so lovely, welcoming and a perfect guide,. She has trained her team of horses exeptionally well, all with their unique personalities, such as: Cheyenne aka Dora the Explorer - shining through. I can't wait to go back and ride again!

Jordan accommodated my boyfriend and I for a trail ride before she officially even opened for the season this year. I was attracted to her program because of the fact that she rehabilitates horses to use for the rides and cares for them in a professional and compassionate manner. Her whole outfit was extremely well-run. The horses were perfect: calm, sensible and happy to take us out on the trail. Jordan was kind enough to take several photos of us for our memories too! We were also provided with helmets and cowboy boots. I really appreciated Inspire's emphasis on safety. I would trust Inspire to take great care of you and provide an unforgettable and fun horseback tour of this beautiful part of the country. Thanks a lot!