Kits, Canteens & Workarounds
Even though I carry those critical items on my person, I still make good use of my cantle bags for other items that are handy to have on the trail. For example, I carry a hoof pick, a first aid kit I can use on myself and my horse, and a multi-purpose tool that includes a knife, pliers, cutters, screwdriver, and awl. I carry several "kits" that are contained in individual plastic zip bags. This keeps them together by function (first aid kit, signaling kit, sewing kit, fishing kit, etc.).
I also carry strips of leather and 50 feet of parachute cord. The cord is light, takes up little space, and can be used as a makeshift lead line or to make an emergency bridle, reins, or both. A strip of leather can be fashioned into a temporary bit. While you may not think your well-maintained headstall, bit, or reins will come loose or break, you don't want to be one of those statistics who ends up miles out on the trail with no plan or workaround. Two people I rode with this year had bridles break during our ride-so it really does happen.
Year-round, I carry a one-quart canteen, riding in any weather. I find myself thirstier in the summer, but it's just as easy to become dehydrated when you're out in the cold, dry air. Taking a canteen also means I have clean water available for cleaning cuts and wounds if either my horse or I get a scrape.
I also take along items I'll need in the event of getting lost or in an emergency. I carry a flashlight with fresh batteries and keep them separate, so I can't leave the light on accidentally and drain the batteries. I include matches and a candle (in case I have to heat something or light a fire), a mirror for daytime signaling, a small weatherproof strobe light for nighttime signaling (with flashlight as a backup), and a whistle. I call this my "signaling kit" and store all the items in a canvas pouch for additional strength, since some of them are heavy.
Additional items are for personal comfort: I dress in layers, so I can adapt to weather changes, and pack an emergency poncho to keep the rain off. The poncho goes down to my knees, includes a hood, and comes folded at a small 5"x3.5"x0.5" thick. I carry several packets of premoistened sanitized hand wipes (nice to use before eating my lunch out on the trail and after cleaning hooves). Two compressed Trioxane packets can provide sustained heat for warming a meal or boiling water. You can find them at any Army/Navy surplus store. They light easily with a match and will heat for about nine minutes. They're also cheap, compact, waterproof, and remain usable for years. A small sewing kit contains needle, thread, and safety pins. I've never sewed out on the trail, but I've been glad to have some safety pins along on several occasions to quickly deal with a tear in a shirt that got caught on an errant branch or was the result of an unplanned tumble. (Are any of them truly ever planned?)
I'll also be adding a few more items to my cantle bags this year. For example, I'll be including a hoof boot in case my horse throws a shoe miles from home. I want one that's not right- or left-foot dependent so I can carry only one, which can be used on any hoof. I'll also pack a small, roll-on insect repellent to foil annoying bugs. (Do not carry a pressurized spray can-it could overheat and burst inside your saddle bag.)
"So," you may be thinking, "Jerry carries lots of junk he'll likely never use."
I may not use all the items I take with me on the trail, but I don't know what I'll need until an event occurs. I've certainly been glad to have bandages for cuts and bruises. I've used the multi-purpose tool several times to tighten or adjust loosening or recently damaged tack buckles, D-rings, and such. I've used the hoof pick after going through thick mud and to remove rocks stuck in shoes. The flashlight came in handy when I returned from a ride later than expected and darkness had already set in. I've not needed the map to get home, but I have referred to it frequently out on the trail to find shorter or alternative return routes when a planned route was blocked, washed out, or unexpectedly closed.
Frankly, it's been comforting to be able to handle unexpected events on the trail with minimal inconvenience. My trail kit is small, light (4 pounds excluding the canteen), and comprehensive enough to cover most eventualities. That's not much to tote for peace of mind. Fortunately, serious trail injuries and problems are not common. But when one happens to you, the statistics don't matter one bit. Having a plan, some basic materials, and a few simple tools with which to work gives you options that can make your ride safer and more comfortable
