Julia on a bike

Motorcycles are sometimes referred to as « iron horses ». We use the terms « fiscal horsepower » and « DIN horsepower » to indicate the power of an engine and the power of a vehicle. And it’s not uncommon for motorcyclists to ride a horse from time to time, or even to own one. Anita is one of them.

Anita comes from Churchill, northern Manitoba, a village known as a stronghold for the Hudson’s Bay Company fur trade in the early 18th century. Anita got her start with bikes around 10 years old before beginning to riding horses, on holidays, and finally getting her own, once adult. When she moved to Saskatchewan, she chose a house in the middle of the fields, ideal for raising or fostering several horses. Indeed, Anita became a « rescuer ». She took in, rehabilitated and brought back into shape numerous horses, neglected by their owners and sometimes mistreated. In the space of 10 years, she looked after some 15 horses, even choosing to keep two of them. « No one would have bet a penny on my grey, he was stubborn, chewed, ruined« , she confides. Several months later and with a great deal of patience, she managed to restore the horse’s confidence, and he now accompanies her on a few rides. And sometimes, very long ones.

In June 2003, she traveled from Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, to Calgary, Alberta, accompanied by her friend Barb Hutton-Brown. On horseback, they covered several thousand kilometers through fields and forests, to raise awareness and money for the Children Wish Foundation. The journey was unforgettable: « Many people followed us, on foot, by bike or on horseback. At certain stages, we were able to take part in rallies where whole families set up stands to raise awareness of our action. I’d never imagined a crossing like this.« 

And what about the bike? As comfortable on her horse as on her Yamaha Stryker, Anita has also convinced her husband Randy to take his driving test. Both ride as a duo, or with their children. Quinton, the youngest at 26, has even passed on the two-wheeler fever to his friends. Last June, Anita and Randy accompanied Quinton and three of his friends on their first excursion. On the program: learning how to signal to other bikers in the same group, first sensations and above all…first repairs. Using one of the leather straps she wears at the end of her handlebars, Anita was able to replace the fastener on the saddlebag of the youngest member of the group in a matter of moments. The saddlebag had just broken and spilled its contents onto the road. More fear than harm, and a good lesson for the young man: always check your luggage before setting off on a short or long ride.

Anita now divides her time between motorcycles and horses, exploring Saskatchewan and the neighbouring provinces and, soon, she’ll be ready for a longer excursion of her own. Did you say cross-Canada?