Horse Trekking; Travel on Horseback
So now that you’ve decided to try horse trekking, what next? First, you will want to plan your trip out; do you have your own horses or are you planning on leasing a horse for your ride? With the help of stables and guided tours, around the world, even people who do not own horses are now able to enjoy their vacation from horseback. A search of the internet, the yellow pages, or even a phone call to the Cooperative Extension office where you live will be able to provide you with more information about finding equestrian tours.
It’s very important to plan your trip out and be sure, not only to let someone know when you plan to leave, but when you are expected to return. Once you’ve decided on a location for your trekking experience, make sure that you’ve also obtained current maps of the surrounding areas. If you plan on riding in a national park, current maps can often be purchased from rangers or local businesses. Even when you’re riding with a guided tour, it’s a good idea to have a map of the area, in the event of an emergency or should you somehow become separated from the group.
Make sure that you and your horses are in proper shape; realize that you’re going to spend a great deal of time in the saddle, but will also have to set up your camp and may experience changes in both climate and altitude, during your ride, depending on where you’re going. Important medications should be packed, but it’s also important to remember the little things that are easily overlooked; throat lozenges, ibuprofen for headaches and allergy medicines are always good to have on hand. Better to be safe than uncomfortable.
Whether you’re riding your own horse or taking a rented horse, it’s important that they are fit as well. Remember that they will be carrying the weight of you and their packs over an extended period of time. A trail-fit horse should not be obese, nor should they be underweight; ideally, your horse should be examined by a veterinarian, prior to the start of any trail ride, and should have his shots up to date. The vet will most likely check his heart and breathing, both at rest and after a workout to make sure that he’s capable of handling the ride. Ensure that your horse is ‘sound,’ which means that he is not limping, and that you’ve had the farrier check his shoes lately, to ensure none need replacing or are coming free. It’s also recommended that you ensure to pack an emergency padded boot or two, just in case your horse throws a shoe while on the trail. If you’re not taking your own horse, don’t be afraid to ask the stable or tour management about their horses and check them out yourself, prior to the actual ride. While not everyone knows enough about horses to determine whether they are fit to ride, you can still examine the horse for obvious signs of trouble, such as labored breathing, open wounds or a pronounced limp.
Tack should also be cleaned and examined, to ensure that it is in good working order. Venturing out on a trail ride with a worn cinch or cracked reins is just asking for trouble. Also ensure that your tack fits the horse properly and is designed with his comfort in mind. A well-padded saddle blanket and properly-fitted saddle will ensure his enjoyment during the ride, and it is always recommended that your horse wear tack that will prevent the saddle from moving too far forward or slipping back as you climb or descend hills. Additionally, it is always a good idea that your horse wear a comfortable halter and lead rope, or that you at least carry one with you, in the event of emergency pit stops or to secure your horse during the night if he doesn’t hobble, and a wise move is to attach a bell to the bottom of the headstall. If your horse manages to escape, it will help to locate him, as horses rarely venture too far from others on their own, but are notorious for hiding right under your nose (or heading back in the direction that they came from). My own personal rule is to always carry a hoof pick in your back pocket; it’s a good practice to always clean your horse’s feet both before and after riding but, should he pick up a stone in the middle of your ride, it’s much easier to just pull it from your back pocket than to do a mad search through packs.
If you’re heading out on an extended ride, you will undoubtedly need at least one pack horse to carry equipment and gear. Your pack horse should not carry much more than 150 pounds, in addition to his basic pack and it’s important to ensure that his gear is equally distributed. When determining what to take, it’s best to always set out everything that you are planning on taking and rethink it again; what do you WANT to take and what do you NEED to take. Take into consideration that your horse will have to carry feed, a small salt block and fly repellant, as well as all your belongings. For this reason, leave the stuff that you don’t need behind; your horse will appreciate the lighter load. A good trick is to remove articles from original packing and repack them in Ziploc baggies, whenever possible; not only will this lighten the load, but they also come in handy for keeping goodies dry, in the event you get caught in the rain. During the ride, take into consideration that you will be lightening the load as you go; feed should be evenly distributed on both sides and then equal parts taken from each side whenever you feed. Another little trick of the trade is to add a stone to the lighter side of a pack, if your weight is unbalanced, to help even things out.
Afraid of roughing it? Don’t be; just because you’re heading out on a horseback trek across the land doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy comfortable surroundings. If you take the time to pack wisely, your horse should have no trouble carrying a comfortable tent, sleeping roll and enough food for both him and yourself. A tarp can be used to cover the packs and will provide emergency shelter in case of rain. If grazing is plentiful, food can be rationed out for your mount, provided you don’t ride him too hard and give him ample time to graze. Horse trekking can be every bit as comfortable as a hunting, fishing or camping trip. Solar-powered showers, consisting of a large bag, designed to hang in the sun for a few hours, can even provide relaxing hot showers at the end of your day, and packing a thin, collapsible cooler can provide you with your favorite beverages along the trip!
Horse trekking grants the rider advantages that few others are able to experience. On horseback, you will be able to go places that many others cannot travel and you will experience nature first-hand. There is nothing as breathtaking as riding past a doe and her fawn, having them simply watch you ride on by without feeling that urge to dart off to safety. Crossing a wide stream on horseback is like taking a trip into the past, reliving the days before automobiles and airplanes, when everything was so beautiful and untouched. There’s no feeling quite like it.
