The Horse and Mule Thread.

2rocky

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Following up on Robby's live horseback hunt, I figured this would be a good pace to trade stories and pictures about out 4 hooved hunting partners.

Elk hunting is as much about the horses as the elk. It is always what I dreamed about as a young kid. Leading a pack string into the mountains and setting up camp with a wall tent and a stove.

When I got into college I took my first summer job in 1993 with an outfitter just so I could learn the ropes. I even got PAID and days off! I thought I was the luckiest 19 year old in Northern Idaho.
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The next fall I met the woman who would become my wife and the next summer she took me to Northeastern Oregon to the outfitter SHE worked for. I got to see some new country and got to play at the Hells Canyon Mule days that Fall.

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I never had a horse growing up, nor knew anyone that did....but after hunting Eastern Oregon on them a handful of times, i knew i needed (wanted) one. So at age 38, without knowing jack$h!t about them, i got one. Luckily i picked well and ended up with a pretty good horse.
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A quick hunt from the house:
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Matt Cashell

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Hauling out Kenny's bull two weeks ago...

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Hardstalk

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Ill have to find some pictures. I got my first horse at twelve years old. He was 20 and didnt last long. Abraham was a machine! He died on top of me and I was stuck for several hours under him until my father rounded up a tractor to get him off my leg. Went a couple years without another one.

Eventually my parents split in a nasty divorce when i was a teen and left me without a whole lot of options but to get out of the house at a young age. About 15.

Moved in with a friend during high school and his father sat me down and said. " you can stay here scotch free, keep your room clean. And practice till the sun goes down" practice? Practice what?? He says " your my boys new roping partner and you better start catching" within a couple months I learned the hard way what that meant. For about 2 years straight I was on the road high school rodeoing and busting my ass in the saddle. I have piles of buckles and trophies to show for what i learned and earned. Him and i dominated the roping circuit for some time. Calf roping, team roping, team penning. And branding calves.

All the while my now wife was on the same state rodeo team. I just never had time to meet her. We ended up meeting several years after the high school days and between the two of us now have 5 horses total. We dont have a whole lot of time to ride anymore with the baby,crazy work schedules and a house that needs some serious tlc but will never not own horses.
 
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Here's a few pictures I had on my work computer. Grew up with horses and followed my dad around on a lot of adventures with them. These pictures are from the last pack in hunt he will probably ever do. That's him sitting in front of the tent.
 
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2rocky

2rocky

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Nice guys. Keep 'em coming.
2011 Wyoming
This is Snoopy checking out his first dead elk. Dad is leading my gelding Shorty.
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Pack horses? We ain't waiting for no pack horses! Lashed on the Riding saddle for the walk back to camp.
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loving this thread, its a dream for now though. ive got the acreage, the wife wants em bad, just no barn or trailer or tack, so no need for the horses either yet
 

robby denning

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I love this thread. Keep the pics coming, old and new.

As Bitterroot Bulls has said on here before: there is just something right about hunting with horses (and mules).
 
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2rocky

2rocky

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2007 we walked back 6 miles to camp with my elk on the saddle horses. I'd bumped a grizzly before I shot this bull and I wasn't sticking around any longer than I had to.
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This is the Basket sling with a "Crowsfoot" on a riding saddle. I carry 50 foot of 3/8 inch climbing rope
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this was a barrel hitch made with 100 feet of parachute cord. You do what you have to...
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Note. I don't saw or chop quarters any more. that is too dang much work! Gutless all the way.
 
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2rocky

2rocky

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I think this bull my brother in law shot in 2007 is the front quarters and head in panniers and with a box hitch on the head.

Takes a reasonably wide bull to be able to pack the head like this but it rode well. I've started doing a half hitch on the nose to each side with good results and minimal hair rub.

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robby denning

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My favorite saddle horse, Rain, and her half sister Missy.
Rain is a half Thoroughbred and half Appolousa, while Missy is full Appolousa. Rain is tougher than dirt.
 
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2rocky

2rocky

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Good to see folks have special horses in their lives too.

We put down my wife's Mare, Candy Bar Chip, this Monday. I guess that is what got me thinking about the whole horses thing.

My wife had her from a filly when Candy's mother died in 1985

She rode her in the Eagle cap wilderness leading dudes when I met her. She rode her in 5 states that I can gather. ID, WA, OR, NV, and CA
Nat helpning gather cattle in Marin County. 2008?
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While she was a High headed unpredictable critter for the first 15 years of life, she mellowed out and became the kid's horse

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My Middle daughter claimed her at an early age.
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She showed her in 4H the last 2 years.
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robby denning

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Great show on a great horse. Unfortunately, at some point, we've all got to make that same decision. If you want to see a grown man cry, come around when I have to make that same decision.

What happened to Trip and Candy Bar Chip to bring about the decision?
 

Matt Cashell

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I didn't put him down. He coliced and twisted for unknown reasons and didn't make it to the vet in time. It was tragic, and I still wish I had somehow seen there was a problem earlier. Tough to talk about.
 
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