| If you spend much time in the wilderness, sooner or | | | | footwear you would want to wear if you were forced |
| later your trusty steed and his sidekick are going to | | | | to walk over 20 miles. Below I listed some key items |
| turn up missing. Whenever you take your stock in the | | | | to have in order to be prepared: |
| backcountry, you always risk the chance that one of | | | | - Halters |
| your stock or all of your stock might wander off. So | | | | - Leads |
| what do you do? Someone once told me you will | | | | - Grain in a feedbag |
| always find your lost horse in their last tracks. While | | | | - Extra food for yourself |
| this may seem like obvious advice, it is a vital place to | | | | - Rain coat |
| look. The first thing I usually do when looking for a | | | | - Flashlight |
| stray horse or mule is to check the back trail for | | | | - Vehicle keys |
| tracks. Chances are your stock is going to head for | | | | Horse Bells & Highlines |
| your starting point, but I caution you that doesn't | | | | I also use Horse Bells. These are usually just a small |
| always hold true. Look around to determine which way | | | | cow bell on a strap that goes around the horse's neck. |
| your stock could have headed. Try to follow your | | | | The sound of the bell lets me know that my hobbled |
| stock's tracks by determining where the worn terrain | | | | or picketed stock is still nearby. If they do decide to |
| is. | | | | take off, I can follow the sound of the bell to where |
| Go Prepared | | | | they are headed or hiding. Sometimes it is easier to |
| Always think of the worst possible scenario before | | | | track the horse bell than the horse. Many people leave |
| heading out, and then think of everything you would | | | | the horse bells on all night just to know that their |
| have wanted to have with you to make the situation | | | | horses are still in camp and that all is well. I always |
| go easier for you. Whether you are going after stock | | | | keep at least one saddle horse securely tied on the |
| that may be headed 20 plus miles back to your trailer | | | | highline at all times for just such emergencies. |
| or stock that may be just around the bend to that big | | | | Keeping your Stock in Camp |
| meadow, I can't stress enough how important it is to | | | | - Never graze more than half your stock at once. |
| go prepared. As much as you try, you can't predict | | | | - Hobble, picket, or fence them in with a portable |
| what might happen when going out in the backcountry. | | | | electric fence. |
| If worse comes to worse, and you do have to walk | | | | - Stock that is not grazing or fenced should be tied to |
| out, I certainly hope you brought something to wear | | | | a horse highline on a hitch rail. |
| besides cowboy boots. Think ahead to what kind of | | | | |