Profile information
Host rating
100 %
Last replied
29 Jan 2026
Reply rate
100.0 %
Usually responds within 5 days
Feedback
14
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Badges (4)
Details
Description
Our family ranch is situated close to the Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba. We have Tennessee Walking horses (about 20) and offer as soon as weather permits trail rides on the ranch and into the National Park. We added 2 cabins onto our property and affiliated with Hostelling International Canada to add accommodation to our offer in 2015. Our 1100 acres are spread out, including rolling hills, woods and little lakes.
We, the owners Thomas and Ilse run the ranch with the help of Jana, our workawayer turned employee. Our son Ray and his wife Valerie (who works full time elsewhere) are helping out when needed and their 2 young sons bring additional life to the ranch through their visits. Thomas and Jana are certified guides with the Riding Mountain National Park.
Our origins lie in Germany, but we have been proud Canadians for a long time. Languages spoken are English, German and some French. We value nature, have a garden and love local products. Apart from being very busy in the summer, we live a quiet life without 24/7 entertainment.
Over the past years, we regularly had volunteers during the summer months. Tasks, where support through workawayers is appreciated, vary throughout the year. If you are a rider, you will have plenty of opportunities to tag along on rides. Depending on the time of the year, you have the chance to learn about horses if you're interested.
Just contact us if you have any questions!
Workawayers will help with the family related tasks and no help with the business side of the project will be required.
Types of help and learning opportunities
Gardening
DIY and building projects
Farmstay help
Creating/ Cooking family meals
Help around the house
General Maintenance
Interests
Pets
Farming
Gardening
Books
Cooking & food
Animals
Camping
Nature
Outdoor activities
UN sustainability goals this host is trying to achieve
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
You love horseback riding or are you interested to learn? There will be free opportunities for you.
Depending on the season, you can learn about gardening and harvesting, and the ranch operation.
The area offers a lot of historic sites, a lot of lakes for fishing (gear can be borrowed, a license has to be bought) and some for swimming. Summer events in the area consist of rodeos, outdoor live music events, and powwows, as we do have a First Nation community close by.
The Riding Mountain National Park with its town site, Wasagaming, is in the summer a hot spot for tourist activity (about 50 minutes away from us).
Become part of our family while here and meet guests from all over the world.
Projects involving children
This project could involve children. For more information see our guidelines and tips here.
Help
Helping with cleaning, other household chores and maintaining the yard are usually the main tasks. As we have a large garden, gardening skills could come in very handy. Help with cooking or baking is always great to have, but not a must.
Our day starts around 7:30 am with a usually leisurely breakfast. There are a few regular chores that need to be done each day, but the day-to-day activities differ and get talked over at breakfast. We will make sure you have your days off (just not always on the weekend), and you are included in festivities, family activities and so on.
Languages spoken
German: Fluent
English: Fluent
French: Intermediate
Accommodation
You will have your own room (sometimes shared with a 2nd workawayer). The bathroom/Shower is shared with one other room. There is internet access within your room. Home-cooked meals with the family.
What else ...
We are out in the country side (15 minutes drive from nearest town). There is usually one extra vehicle available which can be borrowed from May to November to discover the area – having a drivers license and your own vehicle would though be ideal to be more independent. We can arrange for a pick up from the Brandon Airport Shuttle bus, which has daily routes from Winnipeg airport if no vehicle.
A little more information
Internet access
Limited internet access
We have pets
We are smokers
Can host families
Can host digital nomads
You have your own room with internet access.
Space for parking camper vans
Space enough for any size of camper. Access to electricity can be provided
How many Workawayers can stay?
Two
My animals / pets
Our Tennessee Walker Herd
We have around 20 Tennessee Walking Horses, from youngster to retiree.
Coco, Eli & Ally
Our lovely three dogs are always around!
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (7)
They are a really welcoming and easy going family and involve you in everything. - So if you have the opportunity to stay there, go for it!! The work didn't really feel like work - and you will have enough free time to explore the beautiful countryside.
Thomas took me along to a lot… read more
Photos
Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Cultural exchange:
(4.5)
Communication:
(5.0)
They are a really welcoming and easy going family and involve you in everything. - So if you have the opportunity to stay there, go for it!! The work didn't really feel like work - and you will have enough free time to explore the beautiful countryside.
Thomas took me along to a lot… read more
Best wishes!
Thanks for the almoust 5 weeks I… read more
Thomas and Ilse
The place is beautiful as well, everyone who… read more
Thanks for showing me how and where you live and for everything i learned from you. And for all the rides and parades you took me along.
I'm looking forward to meet you guys again someday.
Love Elena.
