| Big Game Hunting > Elk Hunting |
| Horseback Hunters... check my list! |
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| Machias:
Tree saver for your highline rope or picket stake and rope in a garden hose, conway buckles to repair broken leather pieces Make sure you always keep at least one horse or mules tied. Always tie eye high and short, you do not want a horse getting a hoof over the lead rope while tied. Weed Free Hay, grain, collapsible water bucket Horse and mule first aid kit, are you familiar with the signs of colic? easyboots shoes that will fit each horse and mule if you loose a shoe duct tape (makes and great emergency easy boot) |
| Machias:
Some safety tips from a good friend of mine who is an outfitter: Check cinch before mounting Always untie before bridling or unbridling if you hit a tender spot, they may pull back. When turning horses around on a hill, turn them with their head downhill Never tie them to a wire fence Never tie them in a corral with loose horses When tying them to trees High and Tight is Right! Long is Wrong! Also, wrap the lead rope twice, so that is does not fall down the tree. In bad mud holes, high water, or deep snow, take your feet out of the stirrups so that if you fall off you don’t get hung up Never get on a horse that is tied up When walking behind a horse, put your hand on their hip, stay close and talk to them. Always approach a horse with caution, they can sleep standing up and if you spook them there first reaction is to kick. Always ride with a heel on your boot. Do not wear steel toed boot around horses – if they step on your foot they can crimp the steel over your toes. Always ride on the ball of your foot, you should not be clear in to your heels. Keep a straight back and pressure in the stirrups, a good rider helps the horse and a bad rider hinders him. The saddle is not a chair. Keep control of the horse you are not a passenger, you are the driver. Keep the saddle centered over his back, if is starts to slip to one side, kick it back to center. Keep a light hand on the reins, they don’t like constant pressure. Also keep a short rein so you have quick control when you need it. Always have your reins under hand when mounting so you have control as soon as you get in the saddle. Get in the habit of getting on and off your horse on either side. Its always easier to get on and off on the high side, no matter which way your horse is standing – plus it keeps your stirrup leathers wearing evenly. Make a quick visual of your cinch, pad and sheep skin to make sure you didn’t pick up any burs, pine cones etc. That will sore a horse quick. Always check to make sure you have gullet clearance when saddling. That is the most important thing to check as far as fitting the saddle to the horse. The withers is one of the worst spots to sore a horse. Maintain proper distance when trail riding. Use the ears as gun sights. If you look through the ears and all you see is horse butt in front of you, check him back. If all you see is dirt, kick him up. Do not let horses eat on the trail, it is a bad habit. They are not paying attention to the trail when they are doing this. Do not let horses roll when they are tied up, they will eventually start rolling with tack on. Never trust a horse to ground tie, you’ll end up walking home sooner or later. Walk horses down steep grades, steep pitches are hard on them and it gives you a break. Give your horse is head in bad spots they use the weight of their head and neck for balance. Horses should not be grained after a ride – it makes them barn sour. Don’t let your horse trot into camp – keep a steady pace until the end. When they want to trot the last few hundred yards everyone behind you will want to trot also. Don’t chase your horses out of camp, let them drift out on their own, remember, you have to catch these horses later. Don’t try and out muscle a horse – out think him! Horses can learn to trust you if you earn it, but will also distrust a poor handler. Do not set things on your saddle or hitching rails that might fall off and spook your horse. If a horse pulls back while tied up – look out, he’s about to come flying forward. Do not tie up by the reins or let your reins drop on the ground. You’ll break your reins and possibly injure your horses mouth |
| 257 Wby Mag:
Thats some good advice Machias. Always heard bad things about picketing, the outfitters I went with in BC last Sept picketed his horses. Quizzing him a little bit he said he has had them break legs before. The guys I ride with high line em'. Thanks for the tips, good info for all. Later |
| MichaelJ:
Well I've been around horses all my life and know how to ride and trail ride a horse... that's no problem, but good advice machias I can relate to a lot of it! Will take a small can of grain, good idea! We're only taking two saddle horses, one for me, and one for my dad. Have most the gear on our backs and in the saddle bags... using them to get into the area but are hunting out of camp on foot... If we get something down we'll be walking the horses out with the meat/horns on them! The two horses are buddy's and shouldn't stray far, there's LOTS of good grazing right out of camp... However they won't be unattended for long and if they start straying we'll ketch 'em up... Not sure how one would like to be tied while the other is grazing. As for the fishing pole, it's pretty small and if I can fit it I will, though I'm not sure I'll use it but dang some hot trout would taste great! Spare batteries are on the list! Toilet paper... aka Moutain Money! Yep got plenty! haha Got a water filter aswell, that's a-ok! As for the fire grille, it's just a small aluminum one that easily fits in the pack and that's what I was planning on cooking the fish with, the camp stove is great but pretty much good for boiling water and cooking oatmeal! Tree saver... is this for the tree's benefit or the highlines? lol I've used 'em this summer, but we personally don't own any... Our horses have no problems drinking from streams/lakes so the water bucket isn't needed, though it's a good suggestion! Yep we know colic.... lost our 4 year old stud colt 6 weeks ago to a twisted gut (I know, not the same, but we do know what to look for) Duct Tape, good idea! Check! Thanks for all the great suggestions! The list looks really long but actually it all fits nicely in the gear we have! Because of work we'll be out of town shortly after 10 AM so I'll check back in the morning! Michael |
| boneaddict:
Enjoy your hunt and time with your Dad! Life is precious. Safe journeys. |
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