HORSE PACKING 101

Take your trail riding to the next level with nature-filled adventures in the back or front country.

- THOMAS CLOVER AND ALLISON PARKER, WITH ALEXIS BENNETT

Planning a pack trip with your horse is a great Planning a pack trip with your experience nat way for you and your horse to experience nature, disconnect from the hustle and bustle, and learn more about each other. However, it's not an activity you should embark on lightly, especially if you have little experience. Packing involves multi-day trips into the wilderness where you're completely reliant on yourself and your horse for everything from your journey to your daily living. Unlike trail riding or even car camping, packing requires some extra finesse and consideration to be done safely.

Here, trail experts Thomas Clover and Allison Parker of Wilderness Trails Outfitters share their decades of experience as horse owners, showmen, outfitters, and wilderness medics to help riders new to horse packing and camping get outdoors. Here, you'll learn expert tips on getting your horse ready for adventure, packing, and preparing for emergencies.

GETTING STARTED

Whether or not you have a seasoned pack horse, all the preparation for your trip must happen at home first. Packing combines all the risks and potential for accidents of horses with camping or backpacking. Together, the stakes are higher, and the need for preparation increases. If you have a seasoned horse, the work is primarily on you to understand what he's used to, the gear needed, how to pack, and how to minimize your environmental impact. If your horse is unseasoned, there's more work to do, but it's not impossible.