Good pack system for trails?

[dungrulla]

My barn abuts a very large conservation area with enough trails for all-day hiking, if I am so inclined. I’m not going to be riding my horse (he’s retired), but he does like his hikes. It would be great if he could carry all my stuff (water, cell phone, on-call hotspot and computer next weekend, bug spray, etc) for me, without having to throw a saddle on him JUST so he can carry it.

Is there any sort of pack system for sale that’s available for horses? I’ve been googling and all I can find is backpacks for dogs. I don’t need a full pack saddle because he’s only going to be carrying a few things, we won’t be hiking for more than an afternoon at a time.

[Highflyer]

Not an expert by any means but I would think you’d need a pack saddle and panniers.

[dungrulla]

[QUOTE=Highflyer;8724248]
Not an expert by any means but I would think you’d need a pack saddle and panniers.[/QUOTE]

I was trying to stay away from that option because pack saddles are expensive, if we have to go to there I will probably just throw his regular saddle on him without the stirrups and clip some saddlebags on it. He’d probably only be carrying 20-30 lbs at the very most.

[jdobbs64]

You will spend more avoiding the task of saddling him. Saddle him and load up your saddlebags. Snugpax and TrailMax are both good systems if you’re considering fancier saddlebags.

[Garythesquirrel]

Maybe a surcingle with saddle bags would work if he won’t be carrying that much weight?

[tabula_rashah]

I’ve done it before with a surcingle

[NoSuchPerson]

Outfitters Supply sells a huge variety of packing-related items. You might look through the web site and get some ideas.

http://www.outfitterssupply.com/

You might be able to attach something like this to a surcingle.

http://www.outfitterssupply.com/TrailMax-Original-Pommel-_-Horn-Bags/productinfo/WTM250/

[talkofthetown]

I don’t know anything about this kind of equipment, but you get one of the dog backpacks in the largest size, and rig it somehow to be able to go on your horse?

Sounds fun. :yes: