PLAN YOUR NEXT HORSE CAMPING TRIP

Use these tips to ensure a fun and enjoyable camping experience with your horse.

BY TANIA MILLEN

Canada is filled with drool-worthy horse camps and trails, so get out and enjoy them. You might just have the trip of a lifetime!

Most riders who camp with their horse follow a basic system. They trailer to a designated campsite, set up camp, and then ride from the same campsite every day. This type of ‘rig riding’ is easy and lends itself to “glamping.” Other riders travel backcountry trails with one or more horses and camp along the way. Every trip, however, requires planning. You have to decide where to go, who to go with, what horse to take, how you and your horse will eat and sleep, and how to stay safe. Here’s how to plan your next trip.

Decide Where to Go

One of the most exciting aspects of horse camping is deciding where to go. First, make a list of your needs and wants. Do you need overnight pens or is your horse okay on a highline? Do you need potable water? Water for your horse? Power? Outhouses? Consider how far you want to drive, the type of scenery you like, your horse’s skills and fitness, campsite access, cost, the prevalence of bugs and bears, and the amount and difficulty of trails. You can find ideas and information on the Alberta Equestrian Federation website, social media, and in magazine articles. Once you’ve got a list of potential places to go, narrow your choices. It may be helpful to find someone who has ridden in the site you’ve chosen and then ask about their experiences.

Find Trip Partners

For some people, horse camping is a way to spend time with riding partners, and for others it’s a great solo adventure. If you are going with friends, choose reliable partners who you enjoy spending time with. Compare your expectations for the type of trip you want to do, on how far you plan to ride each day, and what expectations you have for safety. Are your horses compatible? If you’re new to horse camping, try to go with an experienced camper for your first trip. Solo trips are fine, too! Consider more popular areas if you go on a trip by yourself; you might meet new riding partners.

Get Your Horse Ready

Knowing the skills your horse has and the condition he’s in will help you determine where to go and how much fun you’ll have. First, ensure that your horse is sound, vaccinated, dewormed, and his teeth are in good shape. Assess your horse’s feet and determine whether

you’ll need boots or shoes. Your horse’s fitness will determine how long you can ride each day, whether you can ride on back-to-back days, plus the likelihood that your horse will remain sound and injury-free. Plan your fitness program well in advance of the trip.

Your horse also needs to trailer, be well behaved at a new place, camp overnight, eat and drink, be safe with other horses, and happily navigate obstacles. Practice ahead of time so the trip is enjoyable for both of you.

Sleeping and Eating

A living-quarters trailer is nice for camping but not necessary. A tent is fine. So is a cot in a bumper-pull trailer, sleeping in an unfinished gooseneck, or stretching out in the back of a pickup. Just take the gear you need to sleep comfortably, stay warm and dry, and not get eaten by bugs.

You will also need to plan your meals. Consider how you’ll prepare food, whether you need a cooler, what you’ll pack for lunches on the trail, and how you’ll wash the dishes. Find out whether you need to take potable water, or if it’s available at the campsite.

Horse Accommodations, Feed, and Water

Every campsite has different horse accommodations. There may be pens, standing stalls, places to highline, or an area to set up a portable electric fence. You may need to tie your horse to a hitching rail or to your trailer overnight. (Note, it can be difficult to fall asleep in a trailer when your horse is tied to it.) Find out ahead of time what accommodations are available so you can take the gear you need and ensure your horse is trained for the situation.

Many camps have non-potable water available for horses. Sometimes it’s a hand pump, a flowing creek, a lake, or a river. It’s not unusual for the water to be a fair distance from where your horse is overnighting. Be prepared to haul water and plan ahead for picky drinkers.

Whatever your horse eats at home is what you’ll need for your trip. Consider that your horse may need a little extra hay if he is working harder than he’s used to. Extra hay may also help reduce the risk of colic. Remember to transition pastured horses onto hay well before a trip, and consider feeding electrolytes to prevent dehydration.

above: Whether you prefer “glamping,” or travelling backcountry trails, every camping trip with horses requires planning. below: SPOT products offer peace of mind, using 100% satellite technology. SPOT allows you to send and receive messages, send your GPS position and status, mark waypoints, track your progress on SPOT Mapping and notify search and rescue officials in the event of an emergency.

Stay Safe

Nobody wants to find themselves in an emergency; however, sometimes things go wrong and emergencies occur, so it’s best to be prepared. Learn and practice your horse and rider first-aid skills ahead of time. Take a first-aid kit for you both. Carry a communication device that works in the areas you’re driving through, including where you’ll be camping. Cell phones are a good option, but so are emergency beacons such as Spot® and InReach® products.

It’s useful to carry hard copies of maps, registration papers, insurance, phone numbers, and contact names – just in case your electronic device doesn’t work. If you can, try to keep your sense of humour if things go sideways. It’s all part of having a character-building adventure.

Finally, have fun! Enjoy researching where to go, training and conditioning your horse, and learning the skills you need. Find new friends, chat with riders about their favorite spots, and explore new locales. Canada is filled with droolworthy horse camps, so get out and enjoy them. You might just have the trip of a lifetime. AB