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dragonbree
I'm starting to plan a ride across country, solo, one horse. I need everyone's advice.
I have experience riding, but my riding and knowledge of horse care/health needs improving for this, no doubt. I figure on 6 months of full-time planning and riding and more advanced riding lessons, and 1 month with a horse vet so I can learn the basics. I'm not worried about the various discomforts (to me) of many months on the road: I've spent many years in difficult living situations outside of the USA.
But I am having some serious problems in making some basic calculations. I REALIZE EVERY HORSE IS DIFFERENT. But I wanted to run some figures past all of you to see what you thought.
First: I'll be looking at gaited breeds with a reputation for endurance (a Saddlebred or Creme & White, probably) of about 1200lbs. and train him / work with him for six months. Thoughts?
Second: I'm thinking that with the right horse we can cover 100 miles per week...20 miles per day (at whatever speed he wishes) for 5 days, and then a 2-day rest. Your thoughts?
Third: At 1200lbs I'm thinking he can comfortably carry 240lbs (20%), especially if 95% of our time is walking. I am 160lb: that leaves 80lbs for: kit/gear (tent, clothing, etc) at 25lbs; saddle & bridal at 30lbs; and high caloric feed (something like Purina Amplify) at 20lbs (3lbs/day as supplement to forage) that I would resupply each week; water at 8lbs each day. I realize my numbers are off because 3lbs of Purina Amplify along with daily forage isn't going to do it...or could it? It's hard to get reliable information on diet balance because so many 'experts' are people selling a supplemental product. If indeed a horse's intake must be 50% supplementation (non-forage) as so many people say, how is it that people take multi-day rides without carrying 12 pounds of feed for EACH day? Answer #1: they have a second horse to carry it. OK, but is that my only option? Do people really go on a 3-day ride with 36lbs of feed for each horse they have? I find that hard to believe. Sorry, but horse nutrition is what I am most ignorant about.
Fourth: Sleeping in the evening. Do any of you have any experience in what type of configuration works best for a rider and his horse when sleeping in the open? I believe in the kindness of strangers along the way, but don't rely on it. I have 'high-tech' lightweight camping gear, but I'm wondering about my partner: face him toward me, alongside, pointing outward? Any tips on his protection at night, when we have no shelter? Dry and level, yes. But what about threats from other animals? In the past I have driven three modular aluminum poles (very lightweight) into the ground (they stand about 3 feet high after being driven) to establish a triangular perimeter and wrap a 1/8" yellow-orange nylon chord (with red 'feathers' every two feet) around the perimeter six times at 6" height intervals. I also have have very small portable motion detectors that cover the perimeter. Any comments? Other suggestions? And what have you used to protect your partner from the elements (wind, rain) that you thought worked best, when 'stuck' outdoors?
ANY and ALL thoughts that you have on this would be GREATLY appreciated! If your opinion/comment is based on real experience, please share that with me. Thank you!
Answer
If predators are an issue, then you're a lot more at risk than your horse.
If you put your horse in a triangular space like you described, it'll take about two nights for the horse to realize it can lean on your cord 'fence' and push it down, then step over it.
I taught my traveling partner to graze in hobbles and let him wander and graze until I was ready to sleep (on the nights I camped out with him), then I tied him with the rope *just* long enough to touch the ground, but not for him to step over it. He would lie down and sleep. I slept lightly but restfully - I was aware of his movements near me and anything else going on around us.
Just tie the horse in a safe place and in a safe way (when you have to tie up), and he'll shift around as it suits him.
One time he was grazing a rich clover patch in a tiny paddock (about 20' square) attached to the barn where I was sleeping, on a farm that hadn't had livestock on it for years. He was one of those horses that slobbered heavily after eating white clover. I was sleeping on the barn floor, and he wandered in after getting his belly full. I half-woke, looked up at him and said hi, and he found a morsel of grass/clover in his mouth, so started chewing again. SPLOP! A lovely green blob of saliva landed on my cheek. "Thank you, my dear horse!"
He was raised in electric fencing, so he had healthy respect for anything that looked like a thin, smooth wire. One night he stayed in a small pasture that had electric fencing, but the charger wasn't working. I led him around the perimeter and periodically reached out to touch the cold wire, saying BZZZT! and jumping back as if I'd been shocked. This area was about an acre, I guess, with lots of grass and he was hungry/tired enough not to test the fence. Another night we stayed at a fairground and he was in an arena without a gate. I had a spool of nylon mason's line (~3/32" diameter twisted twine) and I strung it about 4 times across the gate opening, then warned him about the vicious jolt that awaited a careless horse. There was a bit of grass in there, and a friendly local horseman gave us almost half a bale of hay for him to eat his fill overnight.
I started the trip with a lightweight waterproof tarp, and during one storm I got off and led him, covered from neck to tail with this tarp. One other time we got caught in a storm in suburbia, and even though a kind person let us stand in their garage during the worst of it, my saddle got drenched. Not fun. For several days afterward, it was not fun, riding in a wet saddle.
Don't use a suede seat saddle. It will act like a sponge. Smooth leather will at least shed some of the water that gets on it, and it can be improved with the right conditioning products.
If predators are an issue, then you're a lot more at risk than your horse.
If you put your horse in a triangular space like you described, it'll take about two nights for the horse to realize it can lean on your cord 'fence' and push it down, then step over it.
I taught my traveling partner to graze in hobbles and let him wander and graze until I was ready to sleep (on the nights I camped out with him), then I tied him with the rope *just* long enough to touch the ground, but not for him to step over it. He would lie down and sleep. I slept lightly but restfully - I was aware of his movements near me and anything else going on around us.
Just tie the horse in a safe place and in a safe way (when you have to tie up), and he'll shift around as it suits him.
One time he was grazing a rich clover patch in a tiny paddock (about 20' square) attached to the barn where I was sleeping, on a farm that hadn't had livestock on it for years. He was one of those horses that slobbered heavily after eating white clover. I was sleeping on the barn floor, and he wandered in after getting his belly full. I half-woke, looked up at him and said hi, and he found a morsel of grass/clover in his mouth, so started chewing again. SPLOP! A lovely green blob of saliva landed on my cheek. "Thank you, my dear horse!"
He was raised in electric fencing, so he had healthy respect for anything that looked like a thin, smooth wire. One night he stayed in a small pasture that had electric fencing, but the charger wasn't working. I led him around the perimeter and periodically reached out to touch the cold wire, saying BZZZT! and jumping back as if I'd been shocked. This area was about an acre, I guess, with lots of grass and he was hungry/tired enough not to test the fence. Another night we stayed at a fairground and he was in an arena without a gate. I had a spool of nylon mason's line (~3/32" diameter twisted twine) and I strung it about 4 times across the gate opening, then warned him about the vicious jolt that awaited a careless horse. There was a bit of grass in there, and a friendly local horseman gave us almost half a bale of hay for him to eat his fill overnight.
I started the trip with a lightweight waterproof tarp, and during one storm I got off and led him, covered from neck to tail with this tarp. One other time we got caught in a storm in suburbia, and even though a kind person let us stand in their garage during the worst of it, my saddle got drenched. Not fun. For several days afterward, it was not fun, riding in a wet saddle.
Don't use a suede seat saddle. It will act like a sponge. Smooth leather will at least shed some of the water that gets on it, and it can be improved with the right conditioning products.
What will i all need for a bike across the USA?
nipho2001
I will be camping, couch surfing, I have a bike, I'm getting a tent, inner tubes, spare brakes, tires, chain, lights, out door shower, tool knife. I don't want to carry many clothes so what are my choices there? Anything else? I'm planning on being outdoors alot. Thanks!
Answer
Most of the stuff you'll need is just camping gear but one item that most riders overlook is an umbrella. If you're riding for hours at a time in the sun you're going to want to take a break in the shade.
You may find two sets of clothes sufficient. There are laundromats in every major town so all you need to do is wear your clothes long enough to get to the next town. Just be sure to shower before you go to the laundromat because you'll need to change into clean clothes before you do your laundry. Although you can get away with two sets of clothes you should take lots of socks. You splash through one puddle and then your socks bunch up because they're wet, and that can get painful as the miles drag on. It can ruin your whole day if you don't have dry socks to change into.
Most of the stuff you'll need is just camping gear but one item that most riders overlook is an umbrella. If you're riding for hours at a time in the sun you're going to want to take a break in the shade.
You may find two sets of clothes sufficient. There are laundromats in every major town so all you need to do is wear your clothes long enough to get to the next town. Just be sure to shower before you go to the laundromat because you'll need to change into clean clothes before you do your laundry. Although you can get away with two sets of clothes you should take lots of socks. You splash through one puddle and then your socks bunch up because they're wet, and that can get painful as the miles drag on. It can ruin your whole day if you don't have dry socks to change into.
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Title Post: How do I prepare for riding a horse many weeks and months?
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