5 Things to Consider when Camping with Stock
By Nathan Tan, 2021 WR Intern
1. Stock, just like people, have a limit to how much they can carry.
While it seems great on paper to just have horses and mules carry all of your stuff, remember that each critter can only carry so much. Bringing stock does not give you a free pass to bring as much equipment as you want. Generally, the max weight they can hold is 70-80 lbs per side (140-160 lbs total per critter). If you have more equipment, you may have to bring more stock. Keep in mind that it’s not just your camping gear that you would have to bring either. Stock come with their own required gear such as ropes to tie them up at night, an electric fence to corral them, and feed if you cannot guarantee there will be enough grass for them to graze. The loads on either side of the critter also has to be balanced with its counterpart on the other side. This means there is a good bit of organizing and balancing when you pack the loads.
2. Depending on your athleticism, you may be able to cover more ground quickly on foot.
While the average hiker generally walks between 3-4 mph, stock generally move a bit slower especially when there’s a long string of them. The more stock you have, the slower you will probably go. This is not always the case, however, as some stock will move faster than others similar to how some humans move faster than others. Stock also need to stop for water breaks every once in a while since they cannot just carry around a Camelbak with them. If you are covering long distances, you should also keep in mind that they can only travel 25-30 miles a day. If you plan on covering more than that daily, stock may not be the answer for you.
3. You have to choose your campsites more carefully.
When camping with stock, there are a few more criteria for a good campsite than just a clear, flat spot to pitch your tent. Stock need to have a large enough area that they can graze. If the space is too small, they could eat until the area is bare of all grass and small plants. You also want to be near a good water source such as a creek or pond. This will make it easier to water the critters at night and in the morning. Ideally, you also have trees large and far apart enough to tie a long enough midline that the stock are not cramped when you tie them up at night. All of these criteria are not only for the health of the stock and to make your lives easier, but also to minimize the impact that they have on the area.
4. Stock can have huge impacts on the environment.
Horses and mules will eat every chance they get. This means you need to give them enough space that they won’t just eat all the vegetation in an area to the bare dirt. They also tend to paw at the ground if they are tied up and get nervous which could result in exposing roots or digging up smaller woody plants. If midlines and highlines are tied incorrectly or too frequently on the same trees, they can shave the bark off which could have detrimental effects on the trees’ overall health. Horses and mules can also expedite the rutting of trails if they traverse certain areas frequently. Ultimately, all these effects can be mitigated if the right steps are taken, but they should still be kept in the back of one’s mind when using stock.
5. Overall, you have to consider the wellbeing of your stock.
When travelling with stock, it is no longer just about you and the other people in your party. You have to consider the welfare of the horses and mules too. This means waking up early to feed and water them, brushing them before putting on their saddles and harnesses, staying up late to feed and water them, and overall, just making sure to not over work them and that they are happy too.
Final Thoughts
While this may seem like a list of reasons why you should not use them, my intention is not to deter you from using stock. Horses and mules can be a huge asset especially during longer trips or when heavy equipment is necessary. Aside from the practical uses of traveling with stock, riding a horse or mule can be a lot of fun. Once they know where they are going, you can really enjoy the scenery as it passes by rather than constantly having to watch out for roots and rocks that you may trip on. They are also very social animals that are fun to be around once you develop a bond with them. If the above considerations have not deterred you from bringing stock, then by all means go for it. While they require a lot of work, using stock can make your life easier in many ways and is an overall great experience.