Who's into ultralight horse packing?

[KFhunter]

http://www.horsechannel.com/western-horse-training/leave-no-trace-ultralight-horse-packing.aspx


This is the route I'm taking with horses in the near future.  I'll be ditching the heavy western saddles for lightweight trail synthetics, and carry ultralight backpacking gear.

1 horse
1 rider
everything needed for backcountry camping.   

[KFhunter]

http://www.downunderweb.com/store/MI_SAD600.html


less than 8 lbs

[300rum]

I have kicked it around.  I think you are on the right track.  Small trailer, much less work then setting up a huge camp, more mobile, etc.  Plus, you can lead him out on foot when you get an animal.

You might get looks when you go by Sam Elliot and the pack string but it is better then leading goats!    

[KFhunter]

could just slide in racks and a pickup - no trailer at all

[RG]

It's a good concept.  I don' t have the right kind of accent or knickers for that saddle though.  You would have to try loading all the paraphernalia on your horse and riding him around.  I see two problems that you need to overcome. The first is to actually get on the horse with all the stuff hanging on your saddle.  A big coat, saddlebags, a rifle, and a rope can make it interesting to get in the saddle.  The second is that you wouldn't want to take a lone horse in the mountains unless it lives alone all the time.  It will make your life miserable.  They are herd animals and 2 or more is a herd.  I ride my horse alone all over the mountains but when I tie him up and leave him alone he paws and stomps and makes racket.  If another horse is nearby he goes to sleep.  It would take more than one horse anyway to carry everything needed.  In the article they said different people carried the various pieces of equipment.  With a lot of training for horse and rider and good weight management the idea would work. 

[Idabooner]

Good luck trying to pack your game out with that saddle.

[KFhunter]

That "saddle" was just an example for weight.  More of a glorified bareback pad really.   
I put a lot of miles on with just a pad but that was a long time ago - wouldn't happen now 


I got some nice saddles here already, custom jobs for roping cutting and general ranch work and they seen a fair amount of work. 
I picked one up and they're a good 30lbs I bet,  time you get all the other stuff on you've just put 50+  lbs on the horse and you ain't even climbed aboard yet.


Also I wouldn't be alone,  I'd have a hunting partner or if nothing else I'd take two horses in if I were solo.   Even still I wouldn't be packing in a big canvas tent, cots or cast iron.

Just wondering if anyone else hunts off horse back and forgo's the traditional outfitter type camp.

[RG]

We hunted in Idaho 2 years ago, one riding horse and one pack horse per person for 7 days.  The feed was poor in the area which made for a lot of extra work but it was good otherwise, we didn't do ultralight but it was fairly light.  We ate well.   Packing out elk takes one extra round trip pretty much though.

[KFhunter]

dang look at all that brand new rigging and tack!





You're pretty close to what I was thinking

[kentrek]

I like it 

Were kinda half way there....all the human gear is ultralight but our horse gear is heavy...still one horse per person tho (2 people)

Def a great option to have in the bag of tricks

[RG]

dang look at all that brand new rigging and tack!

You're pretty close to what I was thinking

I used to sell Montana Pack and Saddlery pack equipment so I had to pick up one of their deckers for myself.  I also sold Montana Canvas products and Riley stoves.  Never made enough money to make it worth while but it gave me an excuse to pick up some nice equipment at wholesale prices.

Montana Pack and Saddlery was in Kalispell and made some of the best sawbucks and deckers around.  I've used a lot of equipment in 30 years around horses in the mountains but theirs was really nice.  Unfortunately it was probably too nice, they aren't in business any more that I can find.

[KFhunter]

I wouldn't mind some nice equipment at wholesale prices. 


Planning on picking up some animals before the snow flies,  when people are looking at buying hay the prices should come down huh.


Easy to ask top dollar when they're out grazing.