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Techniques and Equipment for Wilderness Travel with Stock

Techniques for Wilderness Travel with Stock (continued)

Panniers can provide easy access to gear on the trail and are handy for storage at camp. They are available in a variety of lightweight materials including nylon, canvas, hard plastic, and aluminum. Panniers that fit over a riding saddle are convenient for those who prefer walking to camp but want a saddle for side trips. Be sure the saddle pannier fits the animal properly so the weight of the load is not pressing on the animal’s ribs.

Photo of different types of panniers.
Left to right: hard plastic, aluminum and canvas panniers.

Photo of a man taking gear out of a pannier on a horse.
Taking gear from a pannier.

Instead of packing farrier tools and extra iron shoes, a lightweight urethane temporary shoe, such as Easyboot, can be packed as a spare horseshoe or as protection for an injured hoof. Include a tool for tightening or pulling loose shoes and a rasp for shaping hooves. Some people who have used the temporary shoe suggest cutting the boot along the back to fit the animal’s hoof, and drilling three to four holes in the bottom of the boot to drain water. One disadvantage of the temporary shoe is that mud can pull the boot off the animal’s hoof.

Photo of a temporary shoe, rasp, and a tool for shaping hooves.
A temporary shoe, rasp, and tool
for shaping hooves.

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