On April 2, three friends—Heather Kennedy, Simone Stich, and Kristyn Ward—celebrated National Ride Your Horse to a Bar Day by riding their horses through Surrey streets to The Barn country bar. Known as the “Wild Trails Cowgirls” on Instagram, Kennedy and Stich often take their horses on urban rides across Metro Vancouver, delighting locals and raising awareness about the historic tradition of horses visiting inns and saloons. Their ride was a fun challenge and a way to break from typical trail riding, highlighting that horses are legally allowed on city streets and certain parks in Surrey, provided riders follow regulations.

The event, created in 2021, honors the history of “coaching inns” that provided stables for horses while travelers rested. Kennedy and Stich enjoy the positive community reactions, with many people appreciating the return of horses to urban areas. The trio are also active members of the Bit-A-Bling grand entry team at the Cloverdale rodeo & Country Fair, which takes place annually over the May long weekend.