| There are few things in life that are more enjoyable | | | | sunscreen. Take enough food to last you. Eating on |
| than horse camping. To get away from work, the | | | | the trail and in camp is a wonderfully fun experience |
| city, the noise and traffic, to escape to a world of | | | | in itself. You'll soon learn all about the joys of food |
| big, blue skies, wide open spaces, tall trees and | | | | cooked over a fire and drinks cooled in an icy stream. |
| mountains, fresh air and endless trails ... spending | | | | Food always tastes better when you work up an |
| hours with your favorite horse (and friends and | | | | appetite in the fresh air. Be sure to take lots of |
| family, so long as they are good company, too!). Life | | | | water for both drinking and washing. |
| just doesn't get much better than this. | | | | Pack your favorite magazines, a good book or two, |
| On the other hand, a weekend camp-out with your | | | | music to listen to, and your guitar or flute if you are |
| favorite equine friend can also be a recipe for | | | | so inclined. Take maps of the trails if possible. Read |
| disaster if you are unprepared or unsure of how to | | | | up on the area in which you will be riding and |
| handle a wilderness adventure. Camping with horses | | | | camping. Knowing the history of an area and being |
| is fun, but does require advance preparation and | | | | able to recognize and identify birds, flowers and |
| planning. | | | | wildlife makes the ride more interesting. Be aware of |
| There are different options for the trail rider who | | | | possible dangers and how to avoid them (snakes, |
| wants to camp. In some parts of the country, you | | | | bears, etc.). Have respect for native wildlife and |
| can find fancy stables that rent stalls for the night | | | | Mother Nature. Take precautions and use common |
| where your horse can safely sleep, contained in a | | | | sense, but don't obsess over "what-ifs". |
| barn while you "rough it" at the local hotel or a bed | | | | Other essentials include flashlights and warm sleeping |
| and breakfast. There are equestrian campgrounds at | | | | bag, tent or other shelter. Gooseneck trailers with a |
| some state parks that have corrals and hitching rails | | | | comfy bed up front are wonderful, but many people |
| for the horses, water, and showers and bathrooms | | | | enjoy sleeping under the stars, or they clean their |
| for people, and even electricity for campers. But the | | | | horse trailer out real well when they arrive in camp |
| most common camping areas for trail riders are | | | | and sleep inside it. |
| pretty basic - a place to park your rig, pitch a tent, | | | | Setting up camp: |
| maybe run a tie line for your horse. | | | | Safety is the primary concern for horse camping. |
| This article will discuss camping, starting with just the | | | | When you arrive at your destination, choose a level |
| basics. | | | | parking spot, with plenty of space for tying your |
| Preparation: Your Horse | | | | horse and moving around. Shade is great. When tying |
| The most important element for a pleasurable | | | | your horse to the trailer or a tree or a post, the ideal |
| camping trip is your horse. Your horse should be | | | | tie spot height should be at least the level of the |
| trained well enough so that you are able to handle | | | | horse's withers or above. Be sure to tie your horse |
| him in new and different settings. He should know | | | | to something sturdy, using a quick-release knot. The |
| how to stand tied without fussing. | | | | length of the tie rope should not quite reach the |
| Before setting out on a long trail ride weekend, if | | | | ground when unsnapped from the halter. This length |
| you plan to spend many hours in the saddle riding a | | | | allows the horse to move about some and lie down, |
| lot of miles, be sure you have ridden and conditioned | | | | but is not long enough so that he will get a foot over |
| your horse sufficiently. He should be sound, healthy, | | | | it. If you are tying two or more horses in an area, tie |
| have proper hoof protection (shod, if appropriate for | | | | them far enough apart so that they cannot fight |
| the terrain where you will be riding), and have tack | | | | with each other. |
| that fits well and will not cause discomfort. This part | | | | Hang the hay bag or hay net high enough up so that |
| of the preparation is done in the weeks prior to your | | | | the horse cannot put his foot in it - at least shoulder |
| first campout. | | | | high up on the horse. Hay nets tend to get lower and |
| It's a good idea to feed your horse some hay | | | | lower to the ground as the hay is eaten down, so |
| regularly prior to the campout if he normally is on | | | | always pull the tie string through the bottom ring of |
| pasture, but is going to be fed hay during the | | | | the hay net, bringing it up through the top of the |
| campout. Reduce the number of hours on pasture a | | | | net, to avoid this. One of the most frequent horse |
| little, and feed a flake of hay also each day for a | | | | disasters you see at trail outings are when horses |
| couple weeks prior to your campout. It's important | | | | put a foot through a hay net that is hanging chest |
| that you don't change the horse's normal diet | | | | level or below, and they panic when they get tangled |
| abruptly to avoid chance of colic when you're away | | | | up in it. |
| from home. | | | | Secure small water buckets with a rope to the trailer |
| It's also a good idea to get your horse used to | | | | (if you are tying to the trailer). Larger plastic tubs or |
| drinking from a water bucket if he normally drinks | | | | small muck buckets are great for horse water at |
| only from a large tank of water or stream. | | | | campouts. They're not as easy for the horse to |
| Horse items to pack for a camp-out (in order of | | | | knock over, and once filled, your horse has plenty of |
| importance, from the horse's point of view!): | | | | drinking water. The horse should always have fresh, |
| Feed: Hay and grain (if he normally is fed grain). Keep | | | | clean drinking water available. |
| the diet as close to what he eats at home, and pack | | | | When setting up your camp, be sure to not leave |
| enough to last for your camp-out. Hay bags or hay | | | | anything within the horse's range of movement - |
| nets are handy to feed hay when camping or | | | | lawn chairs, tack, etc. |
| traveling. Don't forget the bucket for grain. | | | | Finally, check your horse's area for any sharp objects |
| Water: Find out ahead of time if you need to take | | | | - trailer door latches, sharp bumpers or license plate |
| water for your horse. If there is not water available | | | | holders, big rocks, sharp tree branches, etc. Cover or |
| where you are camping, take plenty. A cheap and | | | | move these things! Horses are great at finding ways |
| easy way to take water is to get a big plastic trash | | | | to hurt themselves - if it's there, they'll get into it. |
| barrel, put a large trash can liner inside, set it in the | | | | And if you take your dog, follow the rules for the |
| back of your truck, fill it up almost to the top with | | | | park or camping area that you are in. Tie him if |
| water, tie the trash can liner tightly, and snap the lid | | | | necessary, but don't tie him where he and the horse |
| securely. You can carry a good amount of water like | | | | can get tangled up together! |
| this, with little spillage (if you drive carefully!). You can | | | | Fun and adventures |
| also carry water in five-gallon plastic containers, but | | | | Camping out in areas without electricity can be a |
| you will need several of these. It's always a good | | | | challenge, as well as great fun. Use your imagination. |
| idea to take extra water from home even if there is | | | | You can buy battery lamps, solar lamps, citronella |
| water at the campsite, because sometimes horses | | | | candles and torches to help ward off mosquitoes, |
| just don't like the taste of strange water and will not | | | | and other great camping gear. |
| drink it as readily as they will their own water. | | | | Most important of all, get out and ride, explore new |
| Tack and equipment: Pack your gear carefully, taking | | | | trails and enjoy the great outdoors. When you return |
| care to look for worn or faulty equipment that may | | | | to camp, take care of your horse. Allow sufficient |
| cause problems on the trail. Replace worn cinches or | | | | time to pack up before heading for home; clean up |
| straps. Take an extra saddle blanket, extra halter, | | | | your campsite area. Be respectful of the area in |
| extra lead rope, and don't forget the bridle! If you | | | | which you have ridden - do not litter, "leave no trace" |
| don't have a grooming box, get a plastic tote box | | | | is the motto of a good trail rider. Do not expect park |
| and pack it with brushes, hoof picks, curry comb, | | | | rangers or forestry officials to clean up after you and |
| sweat scraper, sponge, fly spray. If it's going to be | | | | your horse. If you leave a good impression, you will |
| chilly at night, pack a blanket or sheet for your horse. | | | | be welcomed back. |
| Even if he normally is not blanketed, it's a good idea | | | | There are numerous resources available if you want |
| to have a sheet, and also a rain sheet, to put on him | | | | to learn more about trail riding, conditioning, camping |
| at night. When camping, the horse will be tied or | | | | and wilderness adventures. The more you learn and |
| confined to a small area and is more likely to become | | | | the more comfortable you become, the easier it is |
| chilled after a long day on the trails, compared to | | | | and the more you will want to get out and go |
| when at home where he can move about freely. | | | | camping and trail riding. You might even want to |
| Preparation: Rider | | | | consider competitive distant rides - endurance or |
| Here's where a check-list really comes in handy. It's | | | | competitive trail. |
| important to take clothes for all weather conditions, | | | | Camping with your horse is a great way to really get |
| including a rain coat or slicker. Take whatever | | | | to know him, as you spend hours together. Enjoy! |
| toiletries you'll need - toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, | | | | |