Warner Stables – Banff Trail Riders

Warner Stables and horses remind us that horses were the preferred mode of transportation for hundreds of years in the Canadian Rockies. The Stoney Nakoda are renown for their riding skills.Early explorations of the mountain valleys and passes, by groups such as the Palliser Expedition, were only possible because of a horse’s strength and endurance to carry people and heavy pack loads through all types of terrain in all types of weather. National park staff continue to patrol the back-country on horseback and outfitters continue to take visitors to remote settings or for short day trips near Banff.Outfitters use a special lashing technique called the “diamond hitch” to secure their boxes and gear to a pack-saddle. It is an ingenious knot that can be quickly released, if necessary.