I am a very experienced camper, and horseman (who hasn't put the two loves together as much as I'd have liked) looking for some good advise. I also have a son who has just turned 3, and he's been camping and riding quite a bit, but not both. I'm wondering what wisdom some of you packers and more experienced hands may have for me. I'm not talking about a big expedition, just an overnight or weekend trip. I don't have, or see a need for, any packing equipment. I do have a well rounded assortment of camping gear, but prefer a minimalist approach. It'll probably be just he and I, my gelding, and his pony. Both horses are well broke to hobble, and I'd prefer to simply hobble them rather than tie to a high line, if feasible. Any thoughts? I should add that the terrain we'll most commonly be in is piney woods with some modest rolling hills, no mountains, deserts, or anything especially tricky, just lots of chiggers, mosquitoes, and humidity. Thanks in advance.

Why be a minimalist if you have horses? The reason I have pack horses/mules is so that I can take enough stuff to be beyond comfortable. By that I mean a wall tent and wood stove for cold weather or a dome tent that is large enough to stand up in for warm weather, (plan on rain or snow), a cot so I don't ever have to sleep on the ground again, enough food for an extra day or two, kitchen boxes, propane stove, shovel, a sit down potty for the kids (I have daughters), fishing poles, a highline to tie the stock up so I don't have to walk back to the trailhead, curry comb, etc. Just my 2 cent.

Dan,

I've done the one horse trip a lot. I prefer two, to pack a light load on one and switch off.
I take: a sleeping bag (light weight)
tarp ( to use for cover )
canteen
pocketsize plastic poncho,pants(optional for rain)
hobbles
propane bottle stove (optional)
small pan/cup
keep food stuff minimal/small/light weight (lots of options)
revolver
Here's a pic of a one horse trip across the Flat Tops Wilderness, in Co. July 4th week, it SNOWED. Made a tent out of the tarp.



Riding the country is the main thing. Comfort is minimal.I ride 10+ hours a day.
just got back from a month long trip to the Gila Wilderness, NM and central Nv.

I appreciate ya'lls input. The minimalist attitude, is two fold. First, I'm only going overnight, and on short trips, cause I'm bringing my three year old. Second, I'm bringing a three year old, and I'd rather spend my time being a great dad, rather than setting up a bunch of stuff for a one night trip. Simple and easy is how I'd rather do it. I have had him with me on a night that got to 27 degrees F, and another when it rained so bad we pulled out at 4 am, but I'd rather hand pick the occasions as much as possible so we have good experiences. I'm looking for the dad advice as much as the horse camping advice.

My son and I do ride for three of four hours almost every Sunday morning, but I don't want to subject him to a ten hour, twenty mile ride in rough country just yet. Are there less than full blown packing outfits, that would suit what I'm trying to do? Thanks in advance.

For the 3 year old, stick to camping at the trailhead and ride out.
Fill the truck up with everything!

Kinda what I've been thinking. Does anyone think I'm crazy to be trying this with a three year old?

i dont, i think you are being a perfect dad by taking your kid outdoors as soon as possible, the faster you learn being out there the better.

best regards

peter

quote:

Originally posted by nobody2:
For the 3 year old, stick to camping at the trailhead and ride out.
Fill the truck up with everything!

Great advice. I have camped, hunted, fished with my kids when they were as young as 4 months old. The first thing to pack is the camera. Put a photo album together every year with lots of candid shots of the kids and yourself on these trips. As I look back and see how small my children used to be and how much hair I used to have, the photo albums become priceless. Teaching your kids about the outdoors, hunting, fishing, horsmanship, etc will provied society with better participants.
I admire any parent that does what you are proposing. Good on you and good luck in your travels.

Dan,

Some of my best pack trip were when each of my kids were three years old. They would ride with me behind my saddle until they fell asleep (which didn't take long)then I'd swing them around in front of me. I would hold the lead shank for the packhorse in my free hand and them in the other. We didn't need much gear but they sure liked the tent and sleeping bags and we were'nt officialy camping until they were in both. I found a 15 mile ride wasn't too far either. These trips are 100% immersion in your kids and they will remember this the rest of their lives. Some of our camping food favorites include secret recipe stew (just tear the label off the chunky soup can) grilled cheese sandwiches, cheese smokies, instant oatmeal, etc. Didn't need much gear to make kids comfortable. Before we got geared up we used to just pack duffles on a riding saddle. Even your pony can pack a couple of duffle bags with everything you need for an overnighter. This way after you set up camp you still have two horses to ride. So many mountains, so little time, and the kids grow up so fast. Good luck.

I have been on 4 backcountry horse back hunts.

I hunted with one guy 2 different times.

He would turn his most of the horses loose at night.

That scared me to death, as I did not want to walk "back to town". However he knew what he was doing, and knew his horses.


Still I would tie them on a line between 2 trees, and make sure they had plenty of food and water. Why take a chance???

Daniel,
I do this a lot. While I have pack horses, many times my wife and I stay out over night with just or personal mounts. I have purchased some oversized saddle bags ( similar to these: http://www.chicksaddlery.com/p...CDS/PROD/1060/244391 ) with a large cantle bag for this very purpose. We each take a sleeping bag with thermarest pad. We have a very small and lightweight two person tent, called the "clip flashlight" tent ( http://www.sierradesigns.com/tents.display.php?id=14 ). The sleeping bags, pads and tent all tie behind the cantle.

We take Sleeping Indian boda bags and a quality walter filter/pump. Throw a pre seasoned steak apiece in thesaddle bags alongwith a can of asperagus and beefaroni and dinner is complete.

We fit a small grill (grate only) into the saddle bags and cook the steaks over coals from our camp fire. For breakfast we have something minimal like granola bars & coffee, but bacon & eggs is easily accomplished if you brought along a small gas stove & pan. For the coffee we use a very small coffee pot ( http://www.coleman.com/coleman...&product_id=810A708T ) & Folgers filter packs. The coffee pot can be stuffed with pre-shelled eggs in a zip lock bag, the bacon and filter pack. The small ones fit handily in the oversized saddle bags. Add enough paper plates and you're set.

The horses are put out for several hours on hobbles ( these are the very best - you'll love them http://www.managewoi.web.cedan...&Category_Code=34000 ) and then spend the night on a high line.

SBT,

Thanks abunch for your time and post. The websites were very helpful. I won't be taking this trip until fall, when it cools down some and the mosquitoes aren't so bad, but that gives me a lot of time to plan and get the right gear. Thanks again.

It's looking like we may make our first trip of the fall next weekend. Just gonna camp at the trail head out of the truck, and ride the trails during the day.

I used to do this quite a bit and I think the "truck camping" plan is the best for first-time kids and girlfriends. It's a much more relaxed experience and allows you to modify your plans quickly if something goes wrong. On an introductory excursion you sure don't want to have too much excitement, if you know what I mean!!

I love hobbles but when push comes to shove a highline is certainly more trustworthy.

Have fun!!

Regards,
Scott

Just got in from our first trip camping with horses. Rain and Mosquitoes were prevalent, but we persevered. His poor butt is red as can be, but as we were driving home, he asked if he could ride his pony some more when we got to the barn. I think that means that when he gets to be 15 and pretty handy, he'll hate horses. More later, I'm tired.

As usual this trip didn't go anything like planned, but worked out just fine. To let ya'll know the basics of my bad luck, the pony came into heat, the rain chance went from 30% to 70%, the temp warmed up as did the humidity, and I didn't finish all of my work the previous day, so I had to start the day at work, rather than load up and go. The whole trip was based on my having to go to the Northern end of the state to drop off a couple of horses, and we were going to stop at a state park, on the way back, thus getting a nice trip for essentially no extra diesel. This park has tent camping, corrals for the horses, and about ten miles of fairly easy trails, but I hadn't been there, and was looking forward to learning the place for myself.
Well, I was four and a half hours later than I thought leaving town, which put us in North LA at six PM. After demonstrating the horse, we were in serious danger of not making it to the state park before the gates were closed at 9 pm. The horses I was hauling back belonged to an old college buddy's dad, and he insisted that we set up camp in his pasture, and his wife even fed us supper.

It has been raining a lot in that area lately (which they badly needed), but, after a quick bareback pony ride, we found a sandy hilltop dry enough for pitching the tent. We borrowed firewood and lighter fluid (generally against my creed, but for ease, I went with the flow) and had a nice fire. I don't know how, but there weren't too many mosquitoes. The temp was in the low seventies, with high humidity, but it was just cool enough, with a slight breeze to be able to sleep on top of the bags with a light bed sheet for a cover. It barely sprinkled that night, however inside the tent we did have an unexpected shower. My son worked his way onto my sleeping bag during the night, and had an accident. He is not even 3 and a half yet (and rarely has this problem), so no bid deal. He actually did wake up in the middle of the night several times wanting to ride his pony (warms my heart).
After going to bed just after 11 (2 and a half hours late for him) Wyatt woke up at 7 am sharp and his first words of the day were "let's go ride." We ate scrambled eggs with sausage, biscuits and toast with our hosts, and watched the weather. It appeared that the area of the state where our intended state park was located was again receiving rain, but a nice hole in the system was leaving our current area alone. Our very hospitable host insisted that we ride on his place for the day, and I decided to entirely forgo MY PLAN, and just go with the flow. Instead of leaving immediately to ride, my son wanted to see the cows, so Mr. Charles took us on a pickup pasture ride, and we saw the cows. Nothing like driving 4 hours to see cows.
We had 180 acres of woods at our disposal, and more private land surrounding on which we could also venture. After a picture at the camp, we set off. I almost forgot, though we didn't have many mosquitoes, the horseflies were horrible. I literally killed 40 horseflies on Curly, my bay gelding, while they were eating (Ladybug, who is a paint pony of undetermined breeding, was suspiciously left alone by the horseflies. Since I had forgotten fly spray for the horses, and Curly was kicking at them like hell, our host again stepped up and lent me some fly spray. We doused ourselves with insect repellent and away we went.
For those of you who may be wondering, Wyatt was riding with a Mecate, that way he had reins, and I had the lead. I was essentially ponying him, but trying to let him control the pony as much as possible. The pony was being a PITA, as she was in heat. She kept getting behind my gelding, and goosing him. My gelding is the itchy sort, and didn't appreciate her doing this at all. I'm ashamed to say that I fussed at Wyatt a bunch about letting his pony fall behind, but proud to say that he now is very capable and comfortable at kicking the crap out of Ladybug, and making her catch up. We didn't see much in the way of wildlife, as Wyatt sang, yelled, asked millions of questions, and generally gave all but the deafest of animals plenty of warning that we were coming. We did however have 3 1/2 hours of great father and son time. He was getting fairly cranky towards the end, as he had not gotten a nap, or a sufficient nights sleep, but he cowboy'd up and road his pony, by himself, for the entire ride.
We crossed water, mud, had many brushes by many limbs, and even a couple of dogs barking at us, but made it back to the camp safely. I am also quite proud that he stayed in the center of his mini bronc when she spooked twice, though his hat was snatched off both times. He cried the first time she spooked, and laughed the second. Life is good.
We actually stayed on our ride for so long, that they were about to come look for us. I am exceptionally proud of my lil cowpoke and look forward to many more such trips. As far as our luck went, the rain held off until we had camp broken down, and everything loaded but the horses. We did have a flat on the trailer on the way back, but we also had lots of fun, and added some memories to the bank. Sorry for rambling on soooo long.

D77
Enjoyed the report. Never fret about things not going as you plan. That's just how it is. You get an "A" for effort!

just made it back from our trek



Gatorade break

My daughters (don't have any sons) have been riding/camping with me for years. They are getting older now and I have to compete with their friends, jobs, school and other activities. So I don't get them out as often. But we still have a good time when I can get them to come along.


More and more, I can only get one of them to join me. It's rare to have all of them along for the same trip,




I hope they remember the experiences I've shared with. I make sure they learn the plants they see, What they can collect and eat along the way. how to see trail makers ( blazes, cairnes etc)

The last time I rode a public place with my daughter, I saw maybe 30 teen girls, and zero helmets. My girl was the only one. And you post up a pic with all of them geared. Good on you.

quote:

Kinda what I've been thinking. Does anyone think I'm crazy to be trying this with a three year old?

Sounds like that three year old is a lucky kid. Now this advice from the ever cautious grandpa. No matter how gentle the horse, it can hurt or incapacitate you and there are other things however remote that could happen to you on a camping trip. Your three year old would be fairly helpless without you. Just something to think about.

I also would make it a three party trip.

quote:

Originally posted by xgrunt:
Sounds like that three year old is a lucky kid. Now this advice from the ever cautious grandpa. No matter how gentle the horse, it can hurt or incapacitate you and there are other things however remote that could happen to you on a camping trip. Your three year old would be fairly helpless without you. Just something to think about.

I appreciate the concern and advice. I will say that I am extremely experienced when it comes to horses, and have complete confidence in my safety. Also, we aren't exactly heading off into the wilds. I have selected the places I intend to take my boy, and they are chosen based on being relatively easy riding and safe trails. When he's a bit older, we'll add to the challenge, but for now, tamer trails rule. Keep in mind that we are in Louisiana, and there are no rocks, cliffs, and hellaciously dangerous terrain. We have mud and mosquitoes.