I took part in the Ranchstay program with INTERNeX! I stayed on a horse breeding ranch in Alberta, about an hour and a half drive from Calgary. I stayed there for six weeks. I spent all day caring for the horses, which included Mares, Stallions and Foals. I have always loved horses and I learned many new skills, including gaining knowledge of horse breeding, treating wounds on mares and foals and both the ups and downs of working with animals. I will be able to take this experience home with me and hopefully into a future career with horses. I did not get much chance to visit places as we were so busy, but I loved every day I was there and made some good friends! The hospitality was fantastic and I felt at home all the time. I am hoping to return to Canada next year to work and travel. I would recommend a visit to Canada to anyone, it has had a very positive influence me and would on anyone - you would love it!

I arrived in Wildwood on the 23th of February and Dorleen picked me up at the Greyhound station. After the pick up she drove me to their farm between Entwistle and Drayton Valley. We arrived there and she showed me my room and the house. I also met her husband Dave, her son David and the dogs Niki, Lawerne and Shorley.

During the one and a half weeks that I could spend on their farm I could help bring hay to the cows on the field, help building the barn for the goats, a little bit of fencing and every afternoon we brought grain to the goats, calfs and bulls. If we were running out of groceries, we drove to Drayton Valley for shopping.

Once we had to go and pick up parts for a tractor and we drove down to Camrose and back. That made totally about 6 hours driving.

On the 4th of march Gayle and Walter were back from their trip and Gayle picked me up at her mom's place and we drove to her place. There I met her husband Walter, her parents in law Karl and Helga and her dogs Tucker and Bailey. During my stay at their place, I learned how to drive a tractor and ATVs. Every second day, we were feeding the cows out in the field with sileage, hay and straw. Every late afternoon we brought grain and salt to the calfs and cows. On the days we were not feeding, we did some fencing, fixing different things and burning bush piles. There was always something to do. One day we vaccinate all the animals and an other day we brand all the replacement heifers. On mid of march, the cows started calving. That was interesting to see. I learned how to catch the calfs and I could help vaccinate and tag them. On nice days we went sometimes for a ATV-Ride on a Logging Spot or around the hills. There I saw my first moose. Over here at the farm I also saw a lot of deers, a wulf, a few coyotes and a lot of different birds. On my birthday my farmstay family surprised me with a visit at the West Edmonton Mall. That was an awesome day.

I really enjoyed my stay at these two families. I learned a lot of new things and I had a really good time. It was a different experience but a great one. I hope I'll see these families once again.
Thank you very much to everyone that made this stay possible.
Flurina