This message is from: "janet" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Packing
This message is from: "The Mercers" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Do any of you folks do packing? I'm interested in purchasing a set-up but not sure if I want the full pack set-up or over the saddle setup. I'd only be out for a couple days at a time. Help! Taffy Hi Taffy, We've done a couple of packing trips. I don't know what your budget is like, but ours is tight. We opted to learn how to use ropes and used the basket hitch on our saddles, wrapping our goods in a manty. We led the horses in loaded, rode them around in the back country, then led them out loaded with elk. the advantage to the manty approach, is several. One is it allowed various sizes and shapes to be packed, such as the elk quarters which would not fit very well into a regular panier. Also you have the manty's to cover your gear. The biggest advantage was not having to pour $$$ into equipment we will not use very often. The ropes and manty's are useful for other purposes too. There are some great books on the subject. one is called 'packin in on horses and mules' and the other is 'horse packing in pictures'. btw, it is best to have 'hard' seat, slick forked saddles. If you don't have a hard seat, you might want to protect the seat with something (we use a sheepskin). We even succesfully packed an elk on an ausie saddle. Janet
