Some of my fondest memories were made when my mom and I took horse camping trips when I was younger. Our trips usually revolved around an organized trail ride, but for a time or two, we just went somewhere to ride on our own.
Horse camping always took a little more preparation than camping without a horse (which we also did plenty of), but it was also simpler in a way. We usually stayed in the living quarters of our horse trailer, ate easy, no-cook meals, and just enjoyed our horses and the great outdoors.
With that said, if you’ve never camped with horses, here are a few things to know and prepare for!
What to Bring
With horse camping, you’ll not only need accommodations for yourself, but also the horses. This means you’ll need to bring all of the usual horse supplies like feed, hay, buckets, tack, and grooming supplies. You’ll also want to make sure to include a well-stocked first aid kit that includes any emergency medications such as bute or Banamine.
Since some horses don’t drink well away from home, it’s always a good idea to bring water in a large container from home if you can.
For yourself and your fellow campers, make sure to bring bedding, a cooler for drinks and any foods that need to stay cool, as well as other easy food like sandwiches or hot dogs. Canned meats, fruit, chips, and granola bars make easy meals or snacks. Don’t forget a first-aid kit for people too!
Horse Accommodations
One of the biggest decisions you’ll need to make is where your horse will stay while you’re camping. Many campgrounds provide sturdy poles at each site for a tie line, and this is often the easiest. To make a tie line, bring a long rope to tie from pole to pole. Then tie the end of your horse’s lead rope to a clip and fasten it to the tie line. This will allow your horse some movement and the ability to lay down if they want.
Another option is bringing panels such as RAMM’s Light Duty Round Pen to make your own pen (if the campground doesn’t already provide them). Hauling panels can be a bit cumbersome, but they can often be fastened to the side of a longer trailer.
Camping with horses may involve a little work, but it’s totally worth it. Feel free to share your horse camping tips in the comments!
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