I realize that I’m two months late in replying to this. I camp a LOT. In fact, I have to trailer away from home for every ride. Lucky for me Utah is 74% public land, So lots of places to ride. I usually take a long weekend at least once a month where we camp vs just doing a Saturday ride. I’ve tried about every combination of how to camp imaginable. From a pickup with a bumper pull to full-blown LQ.
My current GN trailer does not have any LQ inside of it. So I sleep up on the bunk, But all my living is done outside. I keep a two burner Coleman Stove to cook on. I have a small roll-up table that I can set up to cook on or eat off of. I keep several camp chairs to put around the campfire. I usually keep a cot/inflatable pad in the trailer for others who may not want to sleep on the bunk next to me. They can either set that up outside under the stars or we can sweep out the back and put a tarp down and they can set up in the horse area if it’s stormy or we are in Bear country.
I always set up a Highline, since almost all my camping is primitive dispersed. My horses are very comfortable spending the night tied to a highline. If your horses have not learned this, teach them and learn how to set up a highline. Remember the rules of “7” Minimum 7 foot high, 7 foot between horses, and a 17 inch lead so the horses can not get a leg over the lead. Horses will try and scratch their chin with a hind leg and you don’t want too much slack where they can get a leg over the lead. When I can watch them, I give them a little more lead so they can lay down or eat. But when I go to bed or leave the immediate area where I can see them, Their leads get shortened. Most problems from a highline are because of too long of a lead, or using rope that stretch.
Yes I bring hay and feed my horses. But I also have taught them to hobble. During breakfast or dinner, I take them off the highline and hobble them and let them graze on the natural grass in the area. Pack trips into remote areas, I can’t haul feed in, So they have to graze on whats available.
I have taught my horses to come to me. Yes I’ve used treats and grain to teach them that when I call them, I want them to come, and I usually reward the action by giving them something. So I usually carry some large pellets or cubes that I can give my horses when I go to collect them. I don’t want a horse getting loose and becoming hard to catch. Even in hobbles my horses can run faster than I can.
I almost never put a blanket on my horses. They are used to being outside in the weather. But for camping, I do keep some rain sheets and fleece liners in the trailer. If a horse is tired from an all day long ride and the weather turns and I am in an area where I don’t have an abundance of feed. I will put the sheets on to keep them dry or keep the wind off. If they were loose they could move about to stay warm or find the best spot to get out of the weather, But tied to a highline they don’t have that option. I live at 4400-foot elevation, But summer camp trips often find us at 10,000 foot or higher elevation where the temps can be cold even in July. If horses are in corrals where they can move about, I don’t think it’s as big a deal.
I sometimes will put up a hot wire around a meadow for the horses to graze in. But I always highline at night. I’ve had too many deer/elk/moose run thru my hot wire, getting tangled around their horns and go bucking off as they get zapped to trust my horses to stay put when I can’t see them. At night they need to be securely controlled.
As far as people comforts. I keep basic camp supplies in the trailer. So even if I leave on short notice for a trip. I’ve got what I need to survive in the trailer. There is always a few cans of chili or stew, Some dehydrated hash browns, canned peaches, granola bars, bottled water etc. I won’t starve. Most trips I put some potatoes/eggs/bacon in for breakfast, We bring some meat and veggies for dinner. Dutch ovens are easy to make cobblers in or cook up some great meals in.
You can see some of the places I ride in this video on Youtube. I collected a bunch of photos and videos from my 2016 rides to make it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIUQrydSQdI&t=9s
Most of all, Just get out and try short trips to get experience and gradually make for longer campouts.
