ReviewC o r r a l Horse Camping by George B. Hatley Reviewed by Carol M. Upton “Horse campers enjoy the role their horses play. The horse is not only a means of getting campers into the wilderness, but is also a partner in an adventure. Part of the excitement is our awareness that the partnership of man and horse goes back to the earliest times.” ~ George B. Hatley This practical guide is a must if you are headed into the backcountry on horseback.Hatley draws on his years of experience as a rancher/outfitter to cover everything you need to know, from trip planning to horse gear, safe camp set-up, and striking the next day. Both the beginning and the seasoned horse camper will appreciate the wealth of material and the strong storytelling Horse Camping offers. Getting into the wilderness on horseback promises an unparalleled adventure, one that folks in our hurry-up world often crave, but guidance and organization are needed to do it safely. Hatley says that horses are capable of doing much more work than people realize. He believes that, properly conditioned and outfitted, both saddle and packhorses are capable of being used in either capacity. One chapter includes sections on horse disposition, size, trail training, common horse sense and rider conditioning. Excellent and often dramatic photos by Lewis Portnoy draw the reader into planning their own wilderness adventure. This book is definitely the place to start. George B. Hatley has a passion for both the Pacific Northwest’s Palouse country and the horses named for it. He is nicknamed “Mr. Appaloosa” and is a legend revered among Appaloosa enthusiasts. Now in his nineties, George has slowed down at last, but his sage advice endures.
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May/June 2012
Horse Camping George B. Hatley Washington State University Press Soft Cover, 2009, $24.95 ISBN: 978-0-87422-303-3 Available from www.wsu.edu Reviewed by Carol M. Upton – www.dreamsaloud.ca