So it’s summer and all you can think about is getting out on the open trail with your horse. Not just for an afternoon ride, either – you’re one of those equestrians who wants to go camping with a horse.
It’s a good idea. Horses belong in nature and with a little preparation and training, they can be great camping pets. Not to mention, you’ll have a great time as well.
The biggest issue that you’ll face when it comes to horse camping is containment – how do you keep your horse safe and contained while you’re away from the familiar barn stalls and pastures? Your horse is counting on you to take care of it.
Your camping containment options run from the gamut from a portable corral, an electric portable corral, hobbles, or a picket line.
Corrals are a good option when you know that you’re going to be surrounded by lots of other campers. If you’ve got campers within shouting distance, you’re better off securing your horse with a corral. An electric corral is doubly safe, but then you need to be sure that you have a reliable source of electricity.
The downside to portable corrals is that you need a trailer to haul them to the camp site.
Grazing hobbles limit your horse’s movement without impairing their ability to move enough to graze. If you’ve got some nice fields or pastures on hand where you camp, this can be a fantastic choice. The key issue here is to be sure that your horse is comfortable with the hobbles – you don’t want to surprise him or her far from home. Give them a chance to get comfortable with them at home, then you can use them with more confidence while camping.
The challenge to using a picket line is roughly the same – your horse has to have a basic familiarity with them. Start by using them at home, and then your horse will be better suited to them while camping. You also want to be sure that the picket is driven deep enough into the ground that the horse won’t pull it out. That can present a major safety hazard if the horse is on the loose dragging a rope or lunge line.
Take your time and plan in advance. You know your horse – what containment option would work best for them? Get them used to it and before you know it, you and your horse will be sleeping under the stars!
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