Call Us At: 1.877.456.7717
GAZETTE MONTHLY | NOVEMBER 2021
24 NEW horses added to herd and more good news for Fall 2021
Time to start dreaming about next summer. We may have just closed for the season but summer will come around before we know it. Hot summer days, aspen lined trails on your favourite horse, a crystal clear lake….. And a western ranch tradition with country hospitality that welcomes you back year after year!
In This Newsletter:

* 24 New Horses For The Herd
* The Ranch Is Prepared For The Winter!
* Applications Open For 2022 Wranglers
* We Are Making It Easier To Book A One Week Vacation 
* Introducing The New Activities Manager at the Flying U 
* New Sailboats for 2022
* Barn find. A New Life For Our 1948 Jeep 
* Wrangler Week A Huge Success This Fall
* TV Show Filming At The Ranch Just Wrapped Up
* Gift Certificates
* We are Making It Easier To Reach Us Online
* Record Reservations for 2022
24 New Horses For The Herd

This fall, we have made a major investment in the herd. We have just taken delivery of 24 of the nicest riding horses in the West! 12 were delivered on Oct 20 and went right into the quarantine pen. Then a second load of 12 horses were delivered Nov 2. These horses have gained riding experience from Alberta to the Yukon and were selected for their riding diversity. Overall this means a total of 52 new horses have been added in the past 14 months with a significant reduction in our average horse age. The Flying U ranch will be positioned for years to come with a diverse riding herd of happy horses for riders of all capabilities and ages. Special thanks to our Head wrangler, Victoria Gallant, in the great work she has done in designing our herd for the future.
The Ranch Is Prepared For The Winter!

Hay is really scarce this year because of a very hot and dry summer. Despite this, we have just purchased extra tonnage of hay for the 21/22 winter over and above our usual orders! This insures a good supply of winter feed for the expanded herd. Over the past few years we have developed a good business relationship with providers from all over Western Canada from Edmonton to Dawson Creek. Our last two deliveries came from Alberta and were especially high in alfalfa. The bottom line is our guests should always be confident that the herd will be well fed and rested over the winter break. 
Applications Open For 2022 Wranglers

We will be taking applications for new wranglers starting Dec 1 to report to work in April or May and to end on Oct 15 2022. We will be very busy with fully booked days being the norm. Wranglers will have lots to do with the new horses to ride and train. Also, this year we will be doing more and more trail rides for our new guests and school kids. We supply top wages, and great staff accommodation. This is a dream job for people who want to get paid for doing what they love, working with horses and spending their summer on a lakeside ranch.  
We Are Making It Easier To Book A One Week Vacation

This fall we have been developing ways for guests with families to enjoy a longer relaxed stay. The result is our new one week “staycation”.  It just makes more sense to develop a better ranch for both guests and horses. This cuts down on horse turnovers and creates better trail knowledge. It also saves on labour costs by reducing the number of check ins and checkouts, cabin and housekeeping turn overs, guest orientations etc. We also went back into the records and discovered that in the old days most guests had a program based on a one week stay. So the one week “staycation” offers a lower package rate combined with a broader program with more activities for kids and adults alike. We will be posting more information over the winter. But if you have already booked don’t worry you will be given the option to get the one week rates. It's your choice. 
Introducing The New Activities Manager at the Flying U

We are excited to announce that Lisa Brownridge will be joining in the new Activities Manager position. Lisa will be looking after all the non equine activities at the ranch. Lisa, her husband and their two girls have been guests for years. She is an accomplished rider, has a friendly outgoing personality and she is excited about making the guest experience fun. She and her staff will be in charge of evening activities, the waterfront, archery, and special events of school visits and weddings. Stay tuned, the winter newsletter will have lots of staff announcements for 2022. 
New Sailboats

When you arrive next season you will notice 5 sailboats anchored at the waterfront. They will be available for our guests to use on those super hot days when we will be giving the horses a break. The ranch will always be about horses and providing the best riding in the province. At the same time we will be focusing on other activities to make the Flying U a full service lakeside family resort that you want it to be! Sailing is an environmentally friendly activity and will play a big part in the years ahead. 
Barn find. A New Life For Our 1948 Jeep

We were surprised to learn of the heritage of our old 48 Jeep. We have been in contact with the original owners who sold it to the ranch 50 years ago. It was purchased from the US military in Florida about 10 years after WW2 by Vancouver residents. They towed it back to Vancouver behind their camper where it was repainted and used as a snowplow truck in the lower mainland before it was sold to the ranch. At the ranch it spent most of its life in a shed gathering dust. It has only 38,000 original miles and much of that was being towed across North America! Realizing we have a treasure we have restored the vehicle and have already repainted it in its original red colour. Engine is getting a tune up by Walter, our ranch mechanic, and next season we will add it to our wedding package for photo ops etc. 
Wrangler Week A Huge Success This Fall

Our fall wrangler week this year went off smoothly with good times and a fall clean up that was amazing. We are particularly happy about the clean up of dead fall to the south west of Prospectors ridge and also to the south of the cabins on the east side. We estimate over 8 acres of land was cleared of dead fall which will be good for fire-guarding while providing safe grazing for the horses. It is also gradually returning areas of the ranch to park like settings for our guests to explore with their dogs. Thanks to all who came out and helped and see everyone back for Spring Wrangler week May 1 to 5th 2022! 
TV Show Filming At The Ranch Just Wrapped Up

“Moose Meat and Marmalade TV” filmed an episode at the Flying U the week after we closed for this season. The crew of 9 spent three days filming and the airing date will be in around April 2022. Not surprisingly, Cowboy Steve featured heavily in the filming and also a special thanks to Dan Fremlin, our farrier, for his appearance. And to clarify no moose were harmed in the filming of the episode!  
Gift Certificates

Gift certificates are always popular at the ranch. They come with a custom form with the names of the friends or family getting the certificate and the name of the person giving the gift. They are available now so just send us an email with details at reservations@flyingu.com 
We Are Making It Easier To Reach Us Online

We have contracted with a Vancouver media company to overhaul our online presence. The result is to streamline our booking process, which will also allow guests to amend reservations and get questions answered quicker and easier. It will also provide riding and diet information flow to the barn personnel and cooks throughout the season. This update will be a gradual process that will take a year but you will see changes starting in the web site over the next few weeks. We feel that information flow is critical to bridging the traditional ranch experience into the modern era.
Record Reservations For 2022

This year we have set an all time record with most guests pre booked. This includes regular guests, schools, corporate retreats and weddings extending into 2022/23/24. But don’t worry, there is still good availability and we are taking your calls daily on new reservations. The Flying U has worked hard to supply the best possible ranch experience for the entire family. We have made dozens of improvements in staff, corrals, fencing, trails, herd, dining facilities, menu, waterfront activities, and a host of other improvements. And now you, our valued guests, have answered the call by pre booking for years ahead with friends and family. At the end of the day we guarantee one very important thing: that when you drive across the cattle guard the old time western tradition with the log cabins, unguided riding, and country hospitality, will never ever change.  
P.O. Box 69, 70 Mile House
BC V0K 2K0 Canada
1.877.456.7717