If you think it is harder try walking in the mountains for 9 weeks carrying all of your gear and food. As for taking care of the horsesI've never tried it but I think it looks like fun, although it may be a little harder because you have to look after the horses and stuff as well as yourself. Of course it could also be easier because the horses carry a lot of your gear.
Come on over a Stetson is always in style. Now you need the BootsI guess it is a North American thing more than in the Continent (what a silly term for a small piece of real estate!) but not unknown in Oz.
Did some long day rides but always ended up at a station (ranch to you guys) or some kind of shack/shelter
Frankly I think it would be more fun in north America as I could then wear a stetson as I now have the physique for it
There is a fantastic place to ride in ogmore-by-sea, you ride for hours and not touch a road and they have the option of staying in a teepee overnight near the stables.
I know it isnt a journey as such but a day riding then some campfire food and another day riding, you could tie up and do your own lunch and get your bushcraft fix.
Its along a beach and loads and loads of dunes with plenty of cantering and a long gallop up the beach and some woodland to explore too.
no connection to the place just very contented customers. as the guy could see that we could ride he let us take out some of his point to point horses the next day!!!!
and if you dont feel like cooking there is a cracking camra approved pub close by
Allie
There are a lot of ranches in Texas that specialise in this type of trip
try to google if you can not find one just give me a pm and I will see what I can find
Traderran,
Are you able to do horseback camping (or run pack trains) in Texas in places *other* than ranches?
In the 70s I used to do horseback camping and pack trains. These days I'm a little out of that game and go everywhere on two feet. But it seems to me that these days there are so many restrictions on public lands -- and such a patchwork of fenced private lands between the public lands -- that it's getting hard here in the US to do a big trip (as in a few hundred miles.)
Is your experience in Texas different?
I'd love to figure a route to go from Northern California to Canada by horse. What a trip.
Why would you want to Walk You don't walk and lead a pack horseI've always fancied walking some of the old pack horse / salt trials with a pack pony but lack the requisite skills and most importantly a horse!
The wife would love a horse again but the kids like to eat so thats one for the dim and distant. She is however piecing together a couple of sets of packsaddlery as a spin off of my militaria collecting, shes short of a pair of panels for a complete set of P.A Ammunition, and rather more for a complete set of P.G.S. (both UK military saddles). Although its very haphazzard saddlery, usually unissued turns up at fairs or army surplus shops, often for a pittance.
The idea of something else doing the carrying really apeals!
ATB
Tom
You are quite right on our saddles. In the old days and even today cowboys spent all day every day on horseback that is why we ride the armchairs I have tried your -------saddles my wife is from Scotlandyou guys dont have saddles over there you have armchairs!!
we tried some western style riding and after the initial "akward" feeling they were great, very comfortable.
we looked at doing some riding in canada bc going to find some bears on horseback, that sounded like fun but i got a new job and it was a little less physical than my old job and the pounds started to pile on and now i have to ride a 17.3hh irish draught x thoroughbred gelding to carry my weight !!
what horses do you have?
armchairs rule!!