Handling Stock in the Backcountry
Packing Clinic
Eldon's packing clinic was delightful. He told tales of how he learned what he knows and uses in the back country for livestock management. It was all based on common sense. How do you tie a horse in the back country? Not the standard quick release knot because it tightens down and is hard to release!
How to teach hobbling – it is best to use only one, not the two hobble set – the two hobble set puts the rider into a race with a clever horse or mule who learns to run with them on, usually back towards the trailer. How does the rider calculate how much their riding or pack horse can carry? There is a formula, believe it or not. Clinic attendance? – very few people, but we had a blast.
The Trust Course
The trust course (obstacles) did just what it was intended to do – encourage people to use voice commands from the ground to get a response from the beast. If you are in the back country and your horse unties itself and heads down the trail, the oral "Whoa" or "Halt" becomes imperative!
The horses and mules did beautifully but some owners needed to work on oral commands from the ground before getting into the saddle. The experience was fun, fun. The same course can be ridden but the trust part comes from the ground work first. There is still some building to do with ledges and narrow trail challenges on the course.
Llama-rama
The llamas did their jobs in acquainting the horses with their smells and odd looks. Rodeo par excellence! Some horses were scared, some were curious, and some just wanted to eat the sparse grass. Llamas are great for packing when you're on foot, but they have trouble keeping up with horses. Save 'em for hiking.
