You can't beat a mule for the mountains. They take a little getting use to, but are far better than a horse...........
Mountain Hunting on Horseback
- Thread starter gps
- Start date
You can't beat a mule for the mountains. They take a little getting use to, but are far better than a horse...........
My best advice, didn't notice it mentioned yet, is take good rain gear. It sucks to ride all day, wet. It's not bad, though, with good rain gear, like HH. Some days your hands look like this all day and without decent rain gear the rest of ya would too:
spend lots of time on a horse before you go as already mentioned. i had no experiance with horses when i went to work on a buddy's guest ranch for a summer a couple years ago and i was scared sh*tless of horses before i spent the summer with them, now after 3 months i am confident with them as i now understand them better and it took the better part of the summer to learn how to ride. i did this to get over my fear and because a mountain horseback hunt is an ultiment dream of mine going for dangerous game is africa is second to a horseback hunting trip in my books. take lots of pictures and tell us your story when you get back.
Just spend as much time riding and handling horses. Cleaning hoofs grooming etc will get your confidence up. Get a book called 'Horses, hitches and rocky trails" by Joe Beck. Awesome little book.Practice some of the knots and hitches and you'll be able to help wrangle the horses.
and keep n mind, not all horses will tolerate someone shooting from their back. my parents horses would not allow it. they dont like loud noises(hurts their ears) and they spook badly when we are shooting while on the farm.
make sure you know for certain the horse will allow it before you try it, as you could wind up thrown badly from the horse.
make sure you know for certain the horse will allow it before you try it, as you could wind up thrown badly from the horse.
You can't beat a mule for the mountains. They take a little getting use to, but are far better than a horse...........
Yes you can.....with a good horse.
The last thing a tenderfoot needs is a mule. The mule will smell the industrial pollution and disinfectant on the poor guy and know he's got himself a sucker. A mule is way smarter and will take painful liberties on a dude regardless of past behavior records. Saddles shift around without withers especially up or down hill and the dude will undoubtedly take a nasty trip to the ground on some rocky slope due to poor balance. A mule will not tire out and become used to a inexperienced rider. It will grow increasingly more embarassed to be sat upon by the unworthy captain and use any nearby piece of vegitation or landscape to rub off the nuisance.
No......this chap needs a stout, plump, simple minded, slow moving and docile horse that will gladly follow the one in front of it to make for an enjoyable and injury free experience. Don't get me wrong I do appreciate a mule and I've ridden them straight up steep mountain sides that would kill a horse only to have them stop at the top and hold their breath to listen for the riders way behind us. A grand tool in the hands of experience but a painful lesson in those of a greenhorn!
Good luck on your trip bud!
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My best advice, didn't notice it mentioned yet, is take good rain gear. It sucks to ride all day, wet. It's not bad, though, with good rain gear, like HH. Some days your hands look like this all day and without decent rain gear the rest of ya would too:
Those chain hobbles are the ticket!
why would you shoot off a horse anyways?
horses have the advantage of having 4 feet, deer moose, elk etc think they are one of their own if people are quiet.
riding my parents horses i have seen some of the biggest deer, and gotten well within 30 yards of them before the deer have noticed us on the horses.
that and not knowing people, some people see old westerns and think "damn a nice high steady shot il shoot from horseback the movie horses dont seem to care !"
I would just find it hard to be confident in your shot when you don't know if the horse is going to move just before you sqeeze.
While I share your disliking of the initial logic by aries, the only "shot" one would reasonably take from a horse would be close and quick. Like an offhand shot on something spooked up. Horses seem to draw the attention of ungulates and while they are gawking I would be dismounting and aiming. The saying goes "you can shoot off of any horse, but there are only a few that allow for a second shot". I have broke a few horses to be shot from and they still flinch or jump with any high powered rifle. There is usually a short period of about 2 seconds when they see the barrel come up and they freeze in anticipation of the report. But in a hunting situation they tend to ignore the barrel and watch the game so either way i would dismount if possible!
I am envious of you all. Those are some beautiful pictures. Thats the life. Im trying to get some things sorted out and some long term projects done so I can move back to the bush. I never had my own horse but its about time I do.
Dominion Link
CGN frequent flyer
Unless you board a horse, keeping them is a lifestyle not a hobby. It's certainly not for everyone. My father says that we (horse folks) have horse s#!t running through our veins. I only have three Percherons, but my gf has 18 racing QH's (some are broodmares and youngsters) and she trains another 8 race horses. I find myself helping her out almost daily and I wouldn't have it any other way. There are few things more grounding than working with animals.
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BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Great advice to get as much time in the saddle as possible before going on teh hunt. When you're new to riding, or you've been out of the saddle for a long while, you get damned sore until those muscles get used to being used and abused again.
Start with short sessions and work up from there.
By the way, you're a lucky SOB and I hate you now.
Start with short sessions and work up from there.
By the way, you're a lucky SOB and I hate you now.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Some of them won't tolerate putting on your raincoat on their back either. And a few get downright mental when confronted with Moose. Damned if I know why, but that's the fun of horses.
cant_rope_the_wind01
CGN Regular
- Location
- West central Alberta
If its at all possible, try to borrow the saddle youre going to be rideing in for the summer, until your hunting trip,then if you can find a place where you can rent borrow or steal a nag, to get used to being around them, and rideing you will also be training yer butt for the saddle you will be spending a week in, different saddles do fit different and they do make the difference between comfortable and blistered thighs and ass cheeks
