For me, there are few greater experiences than packing up a camp, saddling my horses and pack stock, and heading into the backcountry. I think of the smell of pines and saddle leather, the gurgle of a creek, the faithful footfalls of my horses, and a feeling of total independence as we work our way up the trail.
But this ideal is endangered. Every year, less land is available for trail riding and horse camping, as America becomes subdivided and paved. Meanwhile, restrictions on horses in the backcountry seem to multiply.
Keeping our backcountry footprint as light as possible is a crucial ingredient to our continued backcountry privileges. Here are 10 tips for keeping your presence light on the land.
1. Know the rules. Keep in mind that the land on which you ride and camp belongs to someone. The owner may be a private individual, a timber company, a state or local government, or a federal agency, such as the Bureau of Land Management or United States Forest Service. If a federal agency manages the land, then you, as an American, are part owner, but you share this ownership with many others. Treat any land on which you ride as you would the living room of a friend. Rules for backcountry use vary widely, even among tracts administered by the same government agency. To learn the regulations for your camping destination, go online, inquire locally, and read trailhead signs. When in doubt, call the local office of the agency involved (such as the district office of a given national forest). That's a good idea in any case. You might just learn that a key campground or trail is closed, a bridge is out, or there's a fire in progress.
2. Limit pack stock. Don't overload your pack horses, but do load them to capacity. Every equine causes a certain degree of impact on campgrounds and trails. It's better to load two pack horses with 150 pounds each than three with 100 pounds apiece. Reducing your string by one animal makes your party lighter on the land.
Limit your pack animals to a ratio of one for every two riders. Better yet, select extremely light equipment, and strive for a ratio of one pack horse to every three riders. With careful planning, it can be done without discomfort, assuming you don't have to pack in all feed for your stock.
3. Leave weeds behind. Most public lands open to equestrians now require that you bring only weed-free hay or pellets for your horses; comply with these rules for the land's benefit. Start your riding horses and pack animals on this feed several days before your trip; abrupt feed changes can cause colic. Plus, you'll ensure the horses' digestive tracts won't be carrying the seeds of noxious weeds. Before leaving home, curry all horses thoroughly. Look especially for any clinging seeds or burrs you could end up introducing to the backcountry.
