Camping With Your Horse

How to make sure your camping trip goes smoothly...

Traveling by horseback has become increasingly popular over the recent years. So if you can find the time in your busy schedules to escape into nature, make sure that you and your horse have everything you need for a safe, comfortable and relaxing trip. Here are some top tips for anyone looking to take their horse on a camping adventure.

Know your horse’s limit

Weight limit, that is! Carrying the live weight of a rider is incredibly different than carrying dead weight of your belongings. To ensure your horse isn’t carrying more than he should, it’s important to know the ratio of weight he can carry. Your saddle, yourself, and your gear should be limited to 250 pounds per horse, but if you’re looking at strictly dead weight, your horse should only be packed with 175 pounds at the most.

Ensure your horse is comfortable

Mentally! Is your horse an old pro when it comes to trails and packing, or is this your first attempt? It’s important to know what your horse is comfortable with before throwing them into this extreme situation. Before embarking on a camping adventure away from home, consider doing a trial run at a trail near your barn. This is also a good opportunity to determine if you’ve missed anything on your list to bring during the real thing. If your horse passes this test, it still wouldn’t hurt to go on your camping adventure with a seasoned horse who has camped before for your safety and the safety of your horse as well.

Get the balance right

Utilise a scale to accurately weigh and balance packs both at the start of your trip and during your trip as items from your pack are used and weight is shifted. It’s important to be aware of the distribution of items on your horses back, and if you’re set on packing heaving, it’s worth looking into a secondary horse to divide up the weight.

Wondering what to pack?

Your list will of course depend on the weather and the location in which you’re camping, but some items to include are:

Sleeping bags Tent

Pots, pans, and utensils Rain gear Hay/Feed Fly spray Canteens

First aid kids for horses and humans

Fire starter

Knife

Mobile phone in case of emergencies Torch

Rope Brushes and hoof pick Extra halter and lead rope Duct tape Toilet paper Food with minimal waste

Remember, anything you bring with you, you’ll be bringing back out with you, so bringing food with minimal waste (or at least waste that won’t be too heavy or take up too much space in your pack), is important.

We work to alleviate the suffering and senseless slaughter of domestic equine and to provide an environment for rehabilitation and carefully select adoptive homes

At the age of 12 Victoria rescued her first horse. Since 1968 she has always taken in the horses that everyone has given up, trying to turn their life around by giving them one last chance. In 1991, orphaned nurse mare foals were brought to Victoria’s attention. Since then, Nurse Mare Foal Rescue is our main priority and has progressively grown to save THOUSANDS of foals. We offer a neonatal and intensive care facility for orphan nurse mare foals. We provide the foals with the necessary attention in order to secure a future in adoptive homes. Annually, we save 150-200 throw away foals from a certain death and provide them with the opportunity to a healthy life. One or two at a time, horses have come in and out of her life inspiring her to firmly believe that there is always a horse out there in need of refuge, and always a need for someone to feel responsible and intervene on that animal’s behalf. Establishing the Last Chance Corral in 1986 was the realization of her vision of creating a muchneeded facility to offer horses asylum.

Today, the Last Chance Corral proudly offers horses hope, shelter, and opportunity regardless of their situation or problems. Be it psychological or physiological we are committed to addressing the individual needs of each rescued animal. Our work begins with developing an individual diet, treatment regiments, and a training program for each horse according to its needs. When a horse has been sufficiently rehabilitated we go about the work of finding appropriate adoptive homes that suit the horse’s needs and abilities.

740.594.4336 lastchancecorral.org

VALLEY VIEW RANCH Equestrian Camp for Girls

Located a’top beautiful Lookout Mountain on 600 acres of lush pastures,

Since 1954 wooded trails, and panoramic views

2020 will be our 66th Summer! Equitation lessons in English & Western for beginner to advanced for girls riders. Experience the full opportunity of ages 8-17 horsemanship through instruction in the ring, time in the saddle on trails, and the care and responsibility of having your own ranch horse. Enjoy up to 6 hours daily with your horse. Enrollment is limited to 50 campers per session.

Engli h and Hunt Seat, We tern Stock Seat and B arrel (Gymkhana), Trail , and Vaulting. Our Program al o include eco-education, imming, canoeing, art and craft , archery, ottery, and of cour e, hor eman hi . 606 Valley View Ranch Rd · Cloudland GA 30731 706.862.2231 · www.ValleyViewRanch.com