the Environment when Camping with Your Horse
Remember
Awareness of area regulations is as important as your environmental common sense by Bonnie Davis
O
ne of the biggest impacts to affect trail riding and horse camping is the development of environmental regulations now being implemented in many states on federal and state lands. The National Forest Service is writing up management plans for the elimination of ‘noxious and invasive weeds’ through the use of Certified Weed Free Feeds (CWFF). Some areas have established and are enforcing CWFF requirements, but no single program exists nationwide.
When making your campsite arrangements, ask if CWFF is required or simply requested or recommended. If it is required, ask for a list of feed stores where CWFF can be found. Since I horse camp and travel a lot with horses on federal lands, I keep
my horses on California Certified Weed Free Elk Grove Pellets in the home barn simply because it’s safer for horses and meets federal feed recommendations.
Remember, when changing from one type of feed to another, begin the change at home. Never suddenly change feed as a horse’s digestive system isn’t geared to sudden diet changes. Start feed changes gradually and take about 5-7 days (or longer, depending on your horse). Don’t allow your horse to free graze a green meadow, because not all green grasses and plants are horse friendly. Te Horse Owner’s Field Guide to Toxic Plants (
www.twohorseenterprises.com) explains what to do if your horse grazes a forbidden plant.
Water is the
most vital of feed requirements for both horses and humans. Some streams are seasonal and campsite pipes are often unreliable, so plan a backup. Take water for at least two days for each horse and each camper. For horses who won’t drink, add a can of apple juice, some grated carrots or even dunk the hay into the water.
THE BASICS
• Camp at least 100 feet from water. • Select a site that has been previously used or is established. • Do not drive or ride across meadows. Ride around edges to prevent meadow damage. • Keep vehicles on roads. • When watering horses, use established watering sites (look for areas other stock or wildlife has used). If none is evident, bucket water to your horse. • If high lining or picketing, use tree savers around trees. Tree savers should be two inches in width and ropes placed over them. • Before high lining or picketing, rake the ‘duff’ from the surface. Place around a tree and then re-rake over surface when leaving. • Move high lines and pickets once a week. • For horses who paw, try hobbling at home so they get used to them, then hobble in camp. • If bedding horses in a pen or under a highline, use pine shavings. • When feeding, put feed into a hay net or bag with a ground cloth underneath to catch loose hay and grains. Dump it back into a tub or bucket for horse to finish. • If using salt blocks, place them in a plastic tub. • Pick up horse manure and, if permitted, scatter it away from camp. Do not stack or pile up. Scattered horse manure will dry faster. • Do not cut trees for firewood. If allowed, use downed timber and always have a fire permit. Build fire on a fire cloth. • If you hauled it in, haul it out!
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www.holistichorse.com Holistic Horse™ • April/May 2012 • Vol.19, Issue 78
Kelly Falkenstein
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