Needs to Know Before You Head Out
You and your equine partner are ready to hit the back country for a trail riding adventure, and you’re excited to see new places and make great memories. But whenever you plan to haul to a remote trailhead for anything more than a short-day ride, there are essential ways to be prepared that can make the difference between a successful journey or a disappointing and possibly hazardous experience.
Except when you are sure your planned location offers all the necessary amenities, such as corrals and water, you should be ready to be self-sufficient if you will camp overnight at a trailhead before riding. And even some horse campgrounds—or dispersed camping areas—lack anything other than open space to park your rig and keep your animals. Because I often travel for weeks or even months at a time and move to different locations, I always bring everything my horses and mule might need for their comfort, health, and security. The following tips are essential to consider when planning a backcountry stay at a trailhead area.
Weed Free Feed
One of the first things to consider involves feed restrictions in the back country. Most public land areas, such as national forests, national parks, and BLM lands, require stock to have only certified weed-free hay or processed feed while riding and camping. Any pelleted or otherwise processed feed automatically qualifies as “weed-free” because the manufacturing procedures destroy invasive plant seeds, but hay needs to be specifically certified and usually is baled with unique multi-colored twine so that it can be verified by rangers or law enforcement on site.
Weed-free hay can be difficult to find, so you may have to make some inquiries to locate an appropriate source. Tractor Supply Company often carries compressed hay bales that are certified weed-free, which have the advantage of being compact and sometimes also wrapped for easy storage and transport.
Containment
Unless you already know what facilities are available, do not assume that you will have a corral to house your horses if you plan to stay overnight. Even some equestrian campgrounds require you to highline horses or provide only hitching rails, and some trailheads may lack readily available trees if highlining is your only option. I have portable corral panels on my trailer, as well as portable electric fence materials, including tread-in posts, polywire or polytape, and a battery operated or solar charger.
Whenever possible, I prefer to give my equines the ability to walk, lie down, roll, and ideally graze if the circumstances allow, but even highlining or a high-tie pole on your trailer with a swivel line is better than having to tie directly to a trailer or hitch rail overnight. Especially if you are riding long distances or for multiple days, it is important that your horse or mule can properly rest, which includes the ability to lie down, as well as move freely to alleviate any muscle or joint stiffness. Plan ahead so you will have whatever options are available to you to make your equines safe and comfortable if you are camping overnight with them.
Water
Making sure that your horse or mule has an adequate water supply at all times is essential. Because I might spend a several nights in a row at a trailhead or dispersed camping area, I always have multiple days’ worth of water with me in my trailer or vehicle, which usually means a minimum of 10-15 gallons per animal per day. One trailer has a large 100-gallon tank in the hay rack on the roof, and another has twin 25-gallon tanks in the bed of the truck that I supplement with ten additional 5-gallon containers.
Finding places to re-fill on extended trips can be a challenge, so I am always scouting for campgrounds or gas stations and rest stops with RV facilities, and I top up my storage at every opportunity. I also carry both large (6 gal.) and small (3 gal.) collapsible water buckets, which can come in handy if I am camped near a natural water source such as a stream that lacks a way for stock to access it. Collapsible buckets are easier to fill in running water and I can also use the smaller one to bail water from a shallow source into the larger bucket to carry it to my camp if necessary.
First Aid
Something you never want to leave home without is an adequate first aid kit. I have both a smaller, portable version that I can bring in my saddle bags while out on a ride and a larger supply that stays with my trailer. What to bring is often a matter of personal choice, but here’s what I always make sure I have on hand, both in camp and with me on trail:
- thermometer
- 2 oz syringe
- 4 rolls of vet wrap
- 4 cotton gauze rolls
- 16 gauze squares
- 4 extra absorbent menstrual maxi pads
- 2 oz triple antibiotic ointment
- 12 oz hydrogen peroxide
- 4 doses of oral banamine
- 8 doses of oral bute
- a week’s worth of oral antibiotics
- Additionally, I try to also include in my equipment the following items, especially if I am travelling with a pack horse and have room for more material:
- 2 -14" pillow wraps
- 2 standing wraps
Weather
Keep in mind the potential impact of weather condition changes, especially if your destination includes high altitudes or a climate that differs from where your horses usually live. Some individual animals handle such situations better than others, so it’s important to take this into consideration. My mule Karlee, for instance, is impervious to cold or rain, but my Arabian mare and one of my Quarter horse geldings are both leaner and have thinner hair coats, so they often need protection from inclement conditions.
Horses that are cold expend energy shivering and often eat poorly, which impacts their performance and body condition over time. I find that blanketing during a rainy, windy, or chilly night after a long day on trail helps them recover fully before the next day’s challenges. This is especially important on long-distance rides, where accumulated stress and caloric deficits take a toll as the miles add up. Anything I can do to keep my animals comfortable in camp increases the likelihood that they will eat and sleep sufficiently, ensuring their ability to stay strong and healthy throughout our journey.
Gillian Larson is proud to represent Tucker Saddles as a sponsored trail rider. She has traveled more than 13,500 miles on national scenic trails and other back country routes since completing her first long-distance journey in 2014. Visit www.gillianlarson.net for details about her rides, workshops, and other information.
