PACKING WITH HORSES AND MULES
Horses and mules were used to carry loads long before they were used to carry people. Horse packing as we know it was developed hundreds of years ago. Genghis Khan is believed to have first used horses as pack animals 700 years ago.
Packing has developed to the point today where it is a combination of art and science. Packers take pride in their animals and in their ability to pack them in a professional manner.
The art of packing is not learned overnight, but takes many hours of study, practice and actual packing. The first thing anyone who is interested in packing needs to know is how to select and care for the horse or mule used for packing. All the equipment needed to be successful in packing is useless if the horse or mule selected is not suited to the job of a pack animal.
Some people use horses, others use mules or burros and recently llamas are becoming popular pack animals. What ever type of animal is selected, it should be well cared for, healthy, well groomed, fed quality hay or grain, shod and handled properly. A good pack animal should be stout and rugged and have sound feet and legs. It should also have a gentle disposition and not aggressive to other animals in a pack string. Horses and mules should have prominent withers to keep the saddle and pack from slipping off the side.
Equipment used on your pack animal needs constant care to make sure it is safe and has not deteriorated with over use or over time. Keeping the pack equipment clean and properly fitted to the animal is essential.
Next episode - Pack saddles, what is your choice?
Horses and mules were used to carry loads long before they were used to carry people. Horse packing as we know it was developed hundreds of years ago. Genghis Khan is believed to have first used horses as pack animals 700 years ago.
Packing has developed to the point today where it is a combination of art and science. Packers take pride in their animals and in their ability to pack them in a professional manner.
The art of packing is not learned overnight, but takes many hours of study, practice and actual packing. The first thing anyone who is interested in packing needs to know is how to select and care for the horse or mule used for packing. All the equipment needed to be successful in packing is useless if the horse or mule selected is not suited to the job of a pack animal.
Some people use horses, others use mules or burros and recently llamas are becoming popular pack animals. What ever type of animal is selected, it should be well cared for, healthy, well groomed, fed quality hay or grain, shod and handled properly. A good pack animal should be stout and rugged and have sound feet and legs. It should also have a gentle disposition and not aggressive to other animals in a pack string. Horses and mules should have prominent withers to keep the saddle and pack from slipping off the side.
Equipment used on your pack animal needs constant care to make sure it is safe and has not deteriorated with over use or over time. Keeping the pack equipment clean and properly fitted to the animal is essential.
Next episode - Pack saddles, what is your choice?
