On the Trail with Justin Dunn A Mountain
Pack Trip Part 1
H
ave you ever wanted to get out in the high country for a pack trip? It can be an enjoyable experience for both you and your horse, and it’s the perfect opportunity for relationship-building.
Help make sure your trip is fun, safe, and trouble-free. Prior to heading out, make sure your horse can do the following things.
Give to pressure. A horse that gives to pressure will come toward you when you pull on the leadline, not fight against you. This makes him far easier to handle. I take up to four pack animals, and having them taught to give to pressure allows me to lead them through the most rugged country with little effort. I tether my packhorses together with small nylon cords, which are rated to break at 350 pounds of pressure for safety. A horse that doesn’t give to pressure and fights the cords, though, will quickly break them.
Halt with a one-rein stop. I make sure all of my horses will come to a halt when I do a one- rein stop. When you apply pressure to just one rein, your horse should stop his feet. This gives you more control, in case your horse spooks on the trail. Trying to stop a horse with two reins when he is in flight mode can cause him to resist and drive through the pressure, rendering you helpless.
Stand still for mounting. As you meander through the backcountry, you may ride across rough and steep terrain. Having your horse trained to stand for mounting and to also be mounted from either side can be useful. I’ve been on the side of a steep mountain trail and had to dismount and mount on the right side of the horse because it was safer to do so. Having my horse stand still made it even safer.
Ground tie. A horse that ground ties stands still and doesn’t wander off when you have to leave him unattended for a while. I train all my packhorses to ground tie, in case I have to dismount and adjust a pack on one of the horses. The last thing I want is for my horses to run away in the backcountry!
Calmly stand tied at night. While camping with horses, you may have to tie them at night in some way—to a picket line, stake, or a tree. Your horse should stand calm and quiet while tied, 30 March-April 2012 | Honest Horses Magazine
About the author Justin Dunn rides year round with his trail-riding business and horsemanship clinics in Guffey, Colorado. To book a trip or training clinic, please e-mail him at
justin@dunnshighcountry.com. You can also visit his website at www.
dunnshighcountry.com, or call him at 719.479.4009.
which will help you have a more relaxing trip and sleep better at night.
Graze on fresh grass. My horses live on over 1,000 acres and are used to free-grazing. So I have let my horses graze all night while in the backcountry. But horses that aren’t used to eating fresh grass can end up with digestive problems. If this is your situation, you can monitor how much your horse eats during the trip by keeping him on a leadline and standing by while he eats grass. You can also spend time before the trip, gradually getting your horse used to eating fresh grass.
Your horse should also be in good condition. For me, having a trail-riding business means my horses get plenty of exercise, but before I go out on a pack trip I still make sure my horses are ready. To best prepare your own horse, consider where you’ll be going—the altitude, terrain, and weather. Also consider how much gear your horses will be carrying. For a couple of weeks prior to the trip, ride your horse daily, gradually increasing the amount of time. Then rest him for a few days before heading out. Also, properly increase your horse’s feed for the extra work, and feed what your horse will be eating on the trip to avoid altering the bacteria in his hind gut.
In the May-June 2012 issue of Honest Horses Magazine, I’ll offer tips on what to bring on your backcountry adventure.
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