Backcountry Horsemanship

Barnesc6

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Dec 4, 2019
Messages
114
Location
CA
Hey gents,
Looking for a good read or podcast about backcountry horsemanship. I’ve team roped for many years- own horses. Last year I took a couple of rental horses and packed all my gear in on a fall hunt. Really want to learn more in regards to horsemanship... I used some saddle panniers from Davis tent co and they worked outstanding. Any suggestions?
 
Joined
Sep 5, 2012
Messages
682
Location
Gypsum, CO
Facebook has a page
Packing in on Mules & Horses. The admin of that page runs royal time guide school, there is a ton of knowledgeable people on there that typically want to help people learn. Few will be very blunt and seem almost standoffish but that’s mainly cause they have seen the wrecks that can happen and want to be straight forward.

Biggest rule of packing get you packs even, it’s hard to do with saddle panniers but 5 lbs can be the difference between a safe trip and a yard sale. The only time I ever use saddle panniers is to pack meat.

Learn to use a lash rope and manty tarp, a box hitch will work in almost every situation.

I do suggest getting a pack saddle for your packing gear, keep the saddle panniers for if you need to use them. You harvest, camp goes on pack horse, meat goes on your saddle horse, you walk out.

Some guys will say different but i have seen the wrecks that come with people just renting horses and going, if you at least have horse knowledge it’s a huge advantage


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rayporter

WKR
Joined
Jul 3, 2014
Messages
4,251
Location
arkansas or ohio
the three things that are most important in packing are-attention to detail

admittedly, it can be hard to know what the details are until you 'discover' them the hard way.
 
OP
Barnesc6

Barnesc6

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Dec 4, 2019
Messages
114
Location
CA
Right on- I’ve owned horses for years and rope regularly so I’m just new to packing more so than horse behavior. The Davis saddle panniers aren’t you’re typical meat panniers. They have a lot of extra straps to bring the weight off the side of the horse and help keep things centered. I also used a packers scale last year to get both panniers to within a pound of one another. I was able to haul in 360lbs of gear with 3 horses last year and it seemed to work pretty damn well. We were traveling on BLM as well so it wasn’t a groomed NF trail. We just used them to haul camp only. I’ll contact royal guide school and see if they know any reading material that would be good- just looking to learn more is all
 

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PNWGATOR

WKR
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Oct 14, 2014
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2,612
Location
USA
If you’re specifically looking for books, find a couple written by Dan Aadland. Train Your Horse for the Backcountry and Complete Trail Horse come to mind. He has others that may interest you as well.
 
Joined
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Messages
682
Location
Gypsum, CO
See you got regular panniers that concert to saddle panniers, then yes those ones are great being able to even both sides! Manty tarps and lash lines work great in a wreck
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Barnesc6

Barnesc6

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Dec 4, 2019
Messages
114
Location
CA
Will manty tarp and lash lines work over mine?
 
Joined
Dec 31, 2021
Messages
1,625
Location
Montana
I know this is a little late but... The best book: Horses, Hitches and rocky trails - Joe Back. Practical and extremely well illustrated.

Mountain riding is best done with a bond between you and your horse. Time in the saddle creates trust and that trust makes the trip pleasant for both. My horses know what I will do and I know what I can expect from them. Just like raising your kids - training goes better if you are consistant and predictable.

I just finished 6 weeks in the saddle, 10-15 miles a day. When I get out of the saddle to cut a tree my girls stand fast or follow me from tree to tree.

I'm not a cowboy - I'm a packer. They aren't the same.

Happy trails!
 
Joined
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Messages
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Montana
Had a friend tell me he saw a gent on a horse run down a herd of elk with a horse and shoot one with a pistol. I'm guessing there is still an opportunity for a spear season. I'd say that was a cowboy. I'm too old for that sport.
 

rayporter

WKR
Joined
Jul 3, 2014
Messages
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Location
arkansas or ohio
that would be called cowboy action shootin for certain.


i once saw 2 guys trying to rope a white mule in the weminuche the day before elk season.

when i came out they were still chasing that mule.
 
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