That’s what I think horse packing and backcountry riding do for us: We feel alive and present.
In a world where we are often numb, stressed, irritated, anxious or distracted (but utterly comfortable because in many ways our lives are easy… We get heat, cool air, coffee, fuel and millions of items online simply by pushing a button), exploring the backcountry with horses pulls us out of all of that.
Packing is time and labor intensive, uncertain, dangerous and if you want to save on weight and maintain some level of convenience, comfort and safety for yourself and your stock it’s rather pricey too.
The payoff? Being in the moment for as long as you’re out there. Seeing things not many people see. Experiencing nature in its raw form because you’re immersed in it, rain or shine. Having your character, gear, navigation skills and your animals’ training tested. Slowing down to take it all in, because that’s all there is to do.
These photos are from the same day ride out of camp, taken a mere few hours apart. It was a hot, dry, exhausting first few miles. We almost turned back because the animals needed water and some time to graze.
The vegetation was poor and all but one of the intermittent streams shown on GPS were dry. The one that wasn’t offered two tiny spots of water. One was muddy, the other required that they push their heads into and under a bush to drink.
The trail was growing fainter by the minute. The dogs and horses were getting tired and the humans worried.
The app said half a mile to water, down some steep-ish terrain. We said to heck with it, we’re already here. So we went.I heard Marcos promise his geldings “paradise at the end of this trail”. I grunted. I was just hoping for flowing water and some grass.
Turns out he was right. I walked Mustangs Lacy and Tiny down the canyon. The trail was so faint and overgrown in spots and so narrow in others that I felt safer that way. At the bottom we found grass almost to the horses’ backs, all the water we could ask for and incredible scenery. A perfect lunch and cooling off spot for the weary two- and four-legged travelers.
Riding back we tried and failed to outrun a storm. Watching it approach, hearing the thunder and finally seeking shelter from hail and rain in a small grove of trees was intense, scary and beautiful all at once.
I’m glad for the experiences and memories and thankful that both Wild Horse Outreach & Advocacy and groups like
4 Corners Back Country Horsemen are doing their part in keeping backcountry packing with horses alive.
#BLMmustang#wildhorseswillingpartners#wildhorses#wildtowilling#horsepacking#packhorse#mountains#adventure#explore#backcountry#bliss#nature#horses#adoptamustang#makingmountainmustangmemories
