Whitemud Equine Centre

Description:

• A holdover, perhaps, to when much of Edmonton's celebrated "Ribbon of Green" network of riverside parks were farm and ranchland, the Whitemud Equine Centre is the only stable within the bounds of the city of Edmonton. Originally the site of the Keillor family farm, it is located near Whitemud Park along the south bank of the river, across from downtown. The centre is a non-profit stable that offers riding lessons, courses on horsemanship (which includes how to care for the animals), and tours of the facility. It's also a center for animal therapy, with children and adults with disabilities taking part in a program that enhances their quality of life through regular encounters with the horses. It's quite a sight to descend from the bustle of Old Strathcona into the valley and see horses racing across the green fields, right in the middle of the city. Well worth a visit, but know that, because it's largely volunteer-run, you should call well in advance.

• © Frommer's 2013