Camping with your horse is a great way to combine a love for riding with a passion for the outdoors, wide-open landscapes, and wild places. Taking your horse camping can be a lot of work, but it’s worth the effort. Here are some tips to get you started.
Equipment
Having the right equipment is key, for the comfort and safety of both you and your horse. Always try new equipment at home first before using it on an overnight trip.
Checklist - Horse
Key items to bring for your horse
§ Tack - well-fitted and comfortable for both horse and rider
§ Grooming Equipment - don’t forget fly spray during the summer!
§ Hay/Grain/Feed – you are responsible for feeding your own horses, and providing feeding equipment/containers, such as buckets, bins, and hay bags. Always bring more hay than you think you might need. Grazing horses are happy horses!
§ Water buckets - if you’re riding hard, especially if it’s hot, your horse will drink a LOT of water, so pack accordingly.
§ Muck rake/shovel and bucket
§ Equine first aid kit
§ Saddle bags and water bottle holder
§ Extra halter, lead, reins
Checklist - Rider
Key items to bring for yourself
§ Comfortable riding clothes
§ Rain gear – easy to pack in saddle bags/bring with on the trail
§ Warm layers for cool evenings
§ Comfortable boots for riding and shoes for camp
§ Extra socks
§ Hat or helmet
§ Sunscreen
§ Bug spray
§ Toiletries
§ First aid kit
§ LUNCHES, SNACKS, and BEVERAGES - stay hydrated!
Preparation
Camping and everything involved is going to be a whole new experience for your horse, so here are some activities you can practice in preparation for your trip.
Horse & Rider Fitness
Make sure both you and your horse are up to the level of riding you will be undertaking. If you are camping at a higher altitude, your horse needs to be even more fit than they would be at sea-level. Base your ride lengths on your horse’s realistic fitness level.
Hauling & Tying
It’s important for your horse to get in the trailer and stand tied, but practicing at home doesn’t always do the trick. Practice hauling your horse and riding in new environments, and standing tied in new (safe) places, even to trees on the trail.
Highlining & Penning
If you’re going to highline overnight or set up a temporary fence, practice this at home, or someplace where your horse won’t be lost in the wilderness if it escapes. If horses are going to be tied or penned together overnight, make sure they get along and have spent time in an enclosed space together before.
Tent Camping
Tents can seem to horses like canvas monsters, especially on a windy day, so exposing your horse to a tent, flapping tarps, and other equipment they are likely to encounter while camping is very helpful.
Riding Solo or in a Group
Let’s face it, our horses aren’t always as social as we are. It’s important to know how your horse will react riding in a group, or even riding off by yourself, before trying it in the wilderness.
Have a question? We’re here to help, whether you’re looking for resources and information or looking to join one of our trips.