Camping With Horses

            Camping with horses is the one of the best training tools you can do with any horse. This fall my 4h club went camping at Wild River State Park with all the horses. In this paper I will be talking about safety at camp, safety on the trail and why it is so good for you and your horse. Now let’s saddle up and get started.

            Camping with the horses is really fun but could be dangerous. These few tips will help the trip go smoothly. There are different ways that your horse can be tied or fenced when camping. I will mainly talk about picket lines. Before you go your horse should know how to stand when tied. You should tie your horse with a bowline knot so the horse can move up and down the picket line. Your horse should be tied in a way where they cannot get their foot over the lead rope. Your horse should have hay in a hay bag to keep him/her busy. Have your campfires away from your horses. Don’t bring your horse directly through the campground because of chairs, picnic tables, tents, fire pits and many other items. Those items can spook your horse and hurt you or other people and can really injure your horse. Stay safe so your camping trip will be fun and safe.

            Riding the trails is very exciting and the main reason we go camping with horses. Riding the trails is very relaxing but it can also turn into a nightmare in a second. You should always ride with a partner but to be safe a group of 4 or more riders is recommended. If someone would be hurt, two go get help and one stays with the hurt person. Have a first aid kit for you and your horse and know how to used it. The leader of the group (trail boss) is responsible to make sure no one is falling behind. Go as fast as the least experienced rider is comfortable going. Make sure your horse is in shape and is ready to ride. In my opinion, trail riding is the best stress relief there is if you do it properly.

            Camping and trail riding are some of the best training and bonding time you can do with your horse. It is fun for both the horse and rider. To sum it up I wish you happy trails.