Danita and Monty Hartnell

(Squamish, British Columbia – October 2010)

I was hesitant at first, thinking that a horse ranch may not be for us….but as soon as I spoke to Debbie on the phone I was excited and felt that we would definitely have a good time. We have truly felt like a part of the family, our mealtime conversations, our horseback rides and your hospitality have been over the top! We will be back, with more of our family. Thanks again for everything!

Matthias, Nicole and Alissa Witt

(Hamburg, Germany – October 2010)

It was such a wonderful time for us at Free Rein Ranch – our first experience for riding and we all enjoyed it. Alissa doesn't want to leave! Thank you very much for your terrific hospitality, being with your family, nice talks, ‘grilled’ marsh mellows, a great thanksgiving. With the other nice guests, we could feel all the love and spirit build up and run this place!

Friederike Ghermann

(London, UK – September 2010)

Thank you for making me feel at home and making sure I didn’t feel alone even though I traveled alone. I loved your company, the food, the cabin and the lake. Thank you to Spider for the amazing work in the round pen and the safe but challenging rides.

Cecele Murphy and Sarah Goldman

(Florida, USA – August 2010)

Debs personal touch sold the deal in a search for a ranch. You’ve got it all going on here, great people, great scenery, great horses and a wonderful sense of community! Thanks for making a great place to reconnect with family and self! All the best and good luck in the future. Keep the G & T on ice!!

The Hurst Family

(Berkshire, UK – August 2010)

We had a wonderful time at the Free Rein Ranch. The highlight was a family ride to Machete Lake and a refreshing swim! We have all improved our confidence in the saddle in such a friendly and encouraging environment. Thank you!

Marco and Simona Tobanelli

(Brescia, Italy – August 2010)

We are the first Italian guests but surely not the last! When we come back to Italy we’ll tell to our family and friends about the WONDERFUL days spent at Free Rein Ranch. Surely when we come back again some of them will come with us! You have to know that we felt completely at home like in a large family and we thank all of you for this! Now, before leaving, we want to say, as every morning before riding we said, ‘SEE YOU LATER!’

Helen, Arthur, Hannah and Sarah Gormley

(Hampshire, UK – August 2010)

What a fantastic time we have had! Lots of wonderful trails with picnics and swimming as well as deer and bears! We loved the gymkhana games and cantering down the logging roads, bushwhacking on ‘Mervin's lost blanket’ trail, picking raspberries – lots of happy memories. Thanks guys – you’re great! I have met some of the best horses at this ranch, not at all your usual plodding ponies! Also the food has been amazing and the people even better. I never expected Canada to be quite so big! The atmosphere is wonderful, a real Western feel. And although I still love my jodhpurs, I will be sad to go back to English riding!

Euan and Sabine Reinhold

(London, UK – August 2010)

Thank you so much for these wonderful days. It was great to at last be able to forget what date it was and only focus on which mountain we were going to climb! If you’re ever hiring, we’d be happy to apply as Murilo’s helpers! Thanks to Boo and Casper who were good as gold to us x

Monica Jaeschke

(North Vancouver, British Columbia – July 2010)

This has been a week to remember! One of the best vacations ever. We loved our horses and enjoyed all the rides. Best of all though was all of you. What a wonderful group of people – you made us feel so welcome. Thanks for such a great vacation!

The Pappas Family

(Toronto, Canada – July 2010)

The horses, scenery and accommodations were all simply perfect but they pale into comparison to your hospitality and friendship! What a wonderful experience. Congratulations on making your dreams come true! See you in Toronto!

Anja Haman

(Vancouver, British Columbia – July 2010)

What a tremendous vacation! You have been such wonderful hosts – putting up with our flamboyant selves and all the kidding! Murilo’s landing lives on!! (and Finlay – be scared – I will get you back!) Hope to see you all again soon.

Bridget Gilbride

(Vancouver, British Columbia – July 2010)

At the risk of being repetitive, thank you for sharing your warmth, your fun, your knowledge and your passion with us (and the rodeo of course!). I truly enjoyed myself and am a richer and better person for meeting all of you (and thanks to Spider for the adventurous rides!)

Georg Brecke

(Bonndorf, Germany – June 2010)

God’s finger took me to this lovely place and I enjoyed some splendid unforgettable days here. I hope to be able to come back again.

Meagan Scheld

(Ontario, Canada – May 2010)

Possibly the best week of my life! Absolutely had a wonderful time! The hospitality and environment were great. I’m very sad to be leaving but definitely plan on coming back!

Audrey Boehm

(Toulouse, France – May 2010)

This beautiful place would not be the same without the lovely people you are! I had such a nice time riding here with you. Everything was really fantastic, even Mervin’s jokes when riding! I keep the lucky stone and the smiles of everybody in my heart.

Sonya Dixon
(Newcastle, England – September 2009)

I can’t say anything more than what has been said here by everyone else. A life changing time spent here – I am now officially a ‘horsey’ person! Thanks to everyone here and especially to the lovely Debbie who embodies and imbues all the wonderful values of the ranch! Friendliness, warmth and a love for animals and nature. The only thing that was better than Debbie was Spider! Love to all.

Doreen & Jochen Schlect
(Kuppenheim, Germany – September 2009)

We were our first time in Canada and your ranch has been a great experience in this time. Jochen rode for the first time. We loved to go by kayak on the lake and saw beaver and deer. Thanks a lot for your great hospitality. Perhaps we will see you again. We wish you all the best until then.

Kristin Wunderlich & Wolf Gudat
(Nuremberg, Germany – September 2009)

It’s been one of the – if not the - nicest holidays of my life. It’s sad to be leaving. Thank you and all the best to you.

Jessica Anderson
(Vancouver, BC – September 2009)

When I spoke to Debbie on the phone I knew this would be the perfect place but you have so much exceeded my expectations that I am in utter amazement. What an incredibly restful and wonderful vacation! You are all so warm and delightful. Thank you for making me feel like one of the family.

Renate & Markus Berner
(Strasswalchen, Austria – August 2009)

Many thanks to everyone for this wonderful holiday. You have great horses and Markus felt safe on the back of Casper! Many thanks. You have a wonderful place and we will come again.

The Esnault family
(Paris, France – August 2009)

Thanks for your lovely welcome. It was very nice to ride with you and your horses and to speak and so many other things. You are very kind and friendly. These are beautiful landscapes and you were all as fantastic as the pancakes!

Marcus Leaver & family
(Hamburg, Germany – August 2009)

We had a wonderful time being part of your family and enjoying the fabulous rides. We wish you all the luck in the world for your new venture and we hope to come back again sometime in the future. Great cooking mum, good jokes dad, fun Mervin and the one and only Debbie. What an A-team!

Karoline & Gregor Hassdenteufel
(Trier, Germany –July 2009)

This was a great stay. The horseback riding, the lake and the cabin, your family, Mervin and the horses, everything was excellent. We hope to see you again!

Magnus & Sonja Embacher
(Fritzens, Austria – July 2009)

Thank you very much for your hospitality and the wonderful time here at your beautiful and peaceful paradise. The horses are great! Magnus lost his doubts and even the admitted that he felt comfortable!! We would love to come back sometime. Stay as you are!

Brianne Lamey
(Edmonton, Canada – July 2009)

This is probably the best vacation I have ever had. Great company, great horses and great scenery! I can’t wait to come back!!

The Vasser family
(Cannes, France – July 2009)

All the family have had a wonderful time here, it has been the best place to spend great holidays! We had a lot of fun with great trips and snooker evenings! Sydney and I learned a lot of things about horses and we really enjoyed our time here. Debbie, Kath, Finlay, Mervin and Benny you were all fabulous. It is the best souvenir of all the ranches we have been to. Thank you very much!

Amy Klassen
(Yukon, Canada – July 2009)

This was perhaps the best vacation I have ever been on! It was a dream come true to visit a ranch and ride horses for a week. You welcomed us like family and I’ve had such a wonderful time. We will be back!

Jane Edgett & Barb Child
(Novia Scotia, Canada – July 2009)

We have so enjoyed our time here. Peaceful, thought provoking, fun, restful, beautiful are just a few words to describe Free Rein and its people. We’re looking forward to our return visit in July 2010. All the best living your passion Debbie, you have a great support team to help you do this.

Erik, Linda, Andreas & Elisabeth Secianu
(Bornem, Belgium – July 2009)

We really loved everything around here! We enjoyed our first experience in horseback riding very much. Thanks so much for your lovely hospitality. Hope to be back one day.

Doi & Joe Planar
(Vancouver, BC – July 2009)

Our stay was awesome! We enjoyed the horseback riding very much. Spider and Orion were magnificent! Thank you everyone for making our stay such a fabulous experience. We will definitely come back and see you soon.

Renee Raccine
(Abbotsford, BC –July 2009)

I had a fabulous time. Thank you for sharing your dream. Everyone made us feel like family. Great horses, great people and a beautiful setting. What more could you ask for. I will be back. I really got to let my hair down.

Julie, Andy & Paul Webb
(Oxfordshire, England – June 2009)

Absolutely brilliant, best holiday ever. You made us so welcome and we are really sad to leave. We feel like we have known everyone forever and it feels like home. We cannot wait to come again.

Jason, Dana, Alex & Jessica Wilkinson
(Ontario, Canada – June 2009)

The sign says ‘guest ranch’, we say ‘family ranch’! The best adventurous vacation we have ever had. We’ll definitely be back.

Jessica Wilkinson
(Ontario, Canada – June 2009)

Thanks for letting me be a part of your family, you made me feel like I was at home all the time. You treated me like a little sister and it was great here. Thank you so much. I will come again with my family and one day when I have kids.

Tim Talbot-Johnstone
(Manchester, England –June 2009)

Deb and the gang. I came out here for some peace and quiet and to gather my thoughts. I rode, I walked, I paddled, but more than that I made memories and new friends. Thank you so much. I can’t wait to come back.

Judy Parkes
(Toronto, Canada – June 2009)

I am in awe of this beautiful Province and the wonderful people that run this ranch. Coming here on my own – you made me part of your family, took such good care of me and taught me so much. Your hospitality was spectacular and I love you all –you are now my second family. Thank you for making #1 on my bucket list so unforgettable. Dear Deb, I wish you all the best with your spectacular dream and I admire you so much. I know that with your courage and spirit and wonderful personality that ‘Free Rein’ will one day be a vacation haven talked about around the world. Love you!

Wim & Kitty Breeman
(Rhoon, Netherlands - June 2009)

Thanks for the great rides, meals, company and for sharing your family life with us. We had a wonderful week. We had fantastic rides and saw lots of wildlife under the professional guidance of Mervin. We wish you lots of success for the future and will be sure to come back sometime.

Sally Ruth
(Stevenage, England – June 2009)

Been to many but this one stood out by far –fantastic horses and trails, great food and family atmosphere which made it very hard to leave! I shall be back, see you next year.

Burnip/Gerhardt family
(Amman, Jordan - June 2009)

A beautiful place to relax and spend time. We all enjoyed it immensely and Isabelle is ready to move in with you next summer! Lovely place, lovely people, lovely horses and a lovely time. Thank you so much.

The Judd family
(Vancouver, BC - May 2009)

Thank you so very much Debbie, Kath, Finlay, Mervin and Benny. We had a fantastic time and can’t wait to come back. We will remember you and this experience forever. What you have here is so extremely special. I’m not just talking about the ranch, but everything. Thank you for sharing this with us, we love you guys.