Re: Comments/advice anyone? LONG

["Sandy Bolinger" <bolinger@bigsky.net>]

Not knowing your horse at all..I'll just tell you some things you will
encounter on your pack trip that might help you make a decision on whether
to take your guy or not...Has your horse ever been introduced to a mule???
It can be sort of like meeting a llama for the first time!!! You might want
to ask the outfitter you'll be traveling with what he does with his mules
etc when in camp:  hobbles, picket lines, trees, electric fence????? We
hobbled most of the mules and picketed the horses...(mules are extremely
herd bound!)Is your horse broke to hobbles??
 Has he ever been picketed? How aggressive might he be if loose in the
company of strange mules and horses? If you are traveling along on a narrow
trail, on the side of a steep mountain, and the entire line of animals comes
to a halt(adjusting a pack...moving an obstacle..meeting another pack
string) ...will your horse be content standing there...for no telling how
long??Or will he start fussing and fidgeting and fall off the trail!?How is
he on slippery narrow wood bridges...in major mountain stream
crossings???How is he on slippery snow-covered trail? All of our mules
learned by doing...right into a pack string as three and four year
olds(carry light loads) The difference between horses and mules is that
mules are really concerned with self preservation...they think through their
options before they react...I don't think the 12 miles a day is a
problem...but having only been on this horse seven times...I think you are
asking for trouble to take him on this trip...If you do take him and all
goes well..it will be a super learning experience....Good
      ----- Original Message -----
From: <ETRAIL@aol.com>
To: <ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2000 11:45 PM
Subject: RC: Comments/advice anyone? LONG


>   Ok...here's the story. I bought my Arab stallion nearly 2 years ago.
He's a
> coming 7 year old (now just 6 1/2). I had him gelded in May. He's now the
> sweet guy I always dreamed he would be. Ground manners..impeccable.
> Temperment--awesome. Willingness--he'll try anything. Rather than spook,
he
> just wants to SEE what's going on, no matter how loud and horrible. This
is a
> BOLD horse who likes to ride his own ride. I should mention that he either
> likes to be in front, or wants to go on his own trail. He has now been
ridden
> exactly 7 times and loves to see what will happen next; he loves to have a
> job. While a MAJOR greenie, this horse has an incredible mind. Of course
he
> doesn't know anything really. Now, get ready for the question of the day.
>   I'm shooting a program for The Outdoor Channel that involves a 5 day
> hunting/pack trip into the Colorado wilderness for elk, deer and bear. My
> husband, who is host of the show, and I are going with a very experienced
> outfitter. I'm a good rider and feel pretty confident about my guy...the
> horse, that is. (Well, husband too if that matters.)
>   We'll be packing 12 miles in on horseback with pack mules for the full 5
> days. I want to take my young gelding on the experience that will set him
up
> as my next competitive horse. I'm a lightweight rider with this guy who is
> 15.1, 900 lbs., pure Polish, strong and powerful. He's out on 35 acres of
> pasture year-round and gets plenty of exercise, although NOT what I would
> call formal conditioning.
>   My other gelding is 15 years old, just my size, but who spooks at the
sun
> rising. And, while he's more well trained, I still have this thing about
> taking my young guy on this trip. I actually think he's more stable.
>   So, here it is...am I nuts?
>   He carries me in a very well-balanced way like I'm a knat on his ass.
> Saddle weighs 20 lbs fully rigged and fits him supremely.
>   Should I be as bold as he and take him on this trip? He doesn't even
know
> how to trot under saddle yet, (we'll just be walking it all anyway) but
> somehow, I think this trip would be the chance of a lifetime in terms of
> on-the-job training. Remember, he's steady as a rock and we love each
other
> to pieces. He's a good boy.
>   Anyway, I'm hoping you guys all jump on this one. It's a unique
situation
> and one that could be a wonderful, but huge learning experience.
>   I didn't do much with him before this summer because he had a job, then
> needed to dump all that lovely testosterone. I just don't want to
overwhelm
> him with too much. He is fully mature now however, physically and
mentally.
> And personally, I think he'd really love getting his "hands" dirty.
>   Look forward to hearing from everybody. Any and all comments welcome! We
> leave on Thursday morning for the 5 hour drive. Which guy do I take
(besides
> husband)?
>   Laura
>
>
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