Holidays on horseback have a long pedigree in western Canada, and most outfitters and guest ranches offer a variety of options. Easiest are short rides that take a morning or an afternoon; you'll be given an easygoing horse and sufficient instruction to make you feel comfortable no matter what your previous riding ability. Longer pack trips take riders off into the backcountry on a several-day guided expedition, with lodging in tents or at rustic camps. These trips are best for those who don't mind "roughing it": You'll probably go a day or two without showers or flush toilets and end up saddle sore and sunburned. While these trips are generally open to riders with varying degrees of experience, it's a good idea to spend some time on horseback before heading out: You get very sore if you haven't been in a saddle for a while. The Canadian Rockies in Alberta are filled with guest ranches offering a wide range of horseback activities.