PREPARATION, PLANNING, & KNOWLEDGE Packhorses help carry you into adventure but require user horse sense Dusty Smith • Manty – large piece of canvas Shorter days and the crisp in used to cover and secure load the air mean one thing in our family: hunting is just around the corner. Pack Saddles Types Packing into Wyoming wilderness There are two different styles areas can be done on foot, but we of pack saddles – the traditional choose to use our horses to take us “Sawbuck,” which has two distinct on adventures. looking “X’s” made of wood on top, Horses can be very useful when and the “Decker,” which consists of carrying loads into the backcountry two metal bars shaped into oblong but can be a big commitment initially hoops. Sawbucks use a single rope to purchase equipment and prepare. attached to a lash cinch to hitch There is essential equipment loads, and Deckers use two ropes needed for packing horses: attached at the metal hoops to sling • Pack saddle – saddle made for loads. The two pack styles carry packing loads the same load – just a little differ- ently. Each can use panniers, but • Pack saddle pad – larger than the Decker-style packs have become regular saddle pad popular because of their versatility in • Lash cinch – strip of material with packing odd-shaped loads. a ring on one end and a hook on Planning and preparation are the other. A 20- to 50-foot rope is a must to ensure proper load size, tied to the ring end and used to placement, and adequate number of attach the load. • Rope – used for securing load, tying or staking horses, and many Always other uses remember to keep • Pannier – large canvas bags or those loads straight hard-sided boxes with loops that hang on the pack saddle and hitches pretty. FALL 2014 15 Extra preparation makes life up the trail easier • Horses must be proficient at es- sential functions like how to lead, tie, stake, and hobble. 1 2 • They should be comfortable with things around and behind them. Practice draping a tarp over the horse and holding ropes around their haunches so they become comfortable. Having a horse that can be maneuvered over logs, through tight spaces, crossing water, and with a calm demeanor 3 is ideal for packing. Cinching a Decker pack saddle • An exercise program for the Photos 1, 2 and 3: Pigtailing horses to lead horse should be started at least a month or two before your travels. animals. Horses can be loaded with many helpful books and videos to A fat or out-of-shape horse that different weights, but the weight learn the hitches and knots. Some won’t go up the trail is not fun will determine the distance you can areas have packing schools that pro- and may ruin your trip. Usually, travel in a day and the number of vide good hands-on instruction such a good rule of thumb is a horse consecutive days traveled. Two hun- as the National Outdoor Leadership carrying 200 pounds can travel dred pounds is a heavy load and so School in Lander and Hoback Peak 20 miles a day for four days. They will limit the distance you are able to Outfitters in Alpine. Also, the Packing will need one or two days rest travel. Try not to pack excessively – and Outfitting Field Manual by Oliver between trips. even though horses are packing the (Ollie) C. Hill is a great reference book Having these items covered at equipment, food, and personal items. all about packing. home before the trip will save head- A scale is essential to ensure aches and accidents up the trail. each load weighs the same on both Horse Care at Camp Work has not ended once you sides of the horse. Mismatched loads get to camp. Horses need tended by even a pound or two will cause to every day. While hunting, fishing, many problems such as having a or hiking, horses should be tied to a pack slip to one side or causing sores “high line.” Don’t leave them to graze on the horse. while you are gone or you might end Secure loads with ropes so they up packing all the gear out yourself or do not slip or fall off. Many different spend a lot of time looking for horses. knots and tying patterns (hitches) A high line is a heavy rope are used depending on the size and stretched between two trees at a shape of the load. Tying the many height greater than 7 feet. When hitches is an art and might be over- horses are tied to the rope, they whelming at first. The most com- are able to walk under the rope and monly used hitches are the Arizona stretch their legs. I prefer tying box hitch, single and double diamond horses on a high line because of this for the Sawbuck, and a basket or mobility. Attaching bells helps locate barrel hitch on the Decker. There are horses in the event of an escape. 16 BARNYARDS & BACKYARDS Lead packer Barrett Fumka of Saratoga Basket hitch for a Decker pack saddle and tucking in extra rope Meet the true horse packing professionals If the U.S. Forest Service has The pack string supports a While back at camp, you can al- some heavy lifting to do in remote wide variety of projects, including low horses to graze while wearing areas, they call in the strong arms hauling materials to support trail hobbles or staked out – the lead can – or in this case, hooves. crews, assisting in trail mainte- be up to 20 feet. In some areas, you The USFS Rocky Mountain nance/construction, hauling fish to might have to pack in horse feed, Regional Specialty Pack String stock remote streams/lakes, sup- which usually must be certified weed- (RMRSPS) is based out of porting firefighters during wild- free. Check requirements for your Shawnee, Colorado, but works in fires, and educational outreach destination, such as the specific na- South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, such as “Leave-No-Trace.” tional forest service office, to ensure Colorado, and Wyoming, cover- Since 1990, the RMRSPS has you have everything needed. ing 17 national forests and seven been promoting continued trail Horses also need water, so find- national grasslands. use and enjoyment and wilder- ing a camp close to a water source Glenn Ryan, a head packer ness preservation. They are true is nice. Pack horse-care products with the USFS, trains the pack professionals of packing into like combs, extra shoeing supplies, string and coordinates trips. His roadless areas, and the USFS and spray or ointment for any sores equine A-team consists of 12 says they spread their knowledge that might occur. You can never have mules and five horses. When through educating the public on enough extra rope. This can be made not in the backcountry, they are the art and science of packing out of natural or synthetic fibers – it is making public appearances and with horses and mules. really a personal preference. providing education on minimum For more information, see Whether planning to go 1 mile impact recreation, stock handling, http://bit.ly/packstring. or 100, horses can be used to pack and packing skills. items needed for the trip. If you do your research, are prepared, and have a good plan, a fun and exciting adven- ture awaits. Dusty Smith is a horse trainer in Hyattville. He prepares all year and counts down to opening day of hunting. He can be reached at (307) 469-2003 or [email protected]. FALL 2014 17 .