I will have to admit that I've forgotten a thing or two; matches always seem to be missing from the cook kit. I once forgot a can of coffee one time, requiring a 20 mile round trip into town to buy it so I didn't growl at everyone. Another time I forgot a toothbrush (but toothpaste on a finger will work).

To help prevent 'forgotten' items, I've put together a couple lists. And I use 'em on each and every trip. I e ven check 'em twice. One list is called 'Camp List for Horses'.  The other is called  'People Camp List'. Instructions are on each as to how I use 'em and I've found when I use 'em, there's always coffee, matches and toothbrush in the camp kits!

I have attached a copy of each. Feel free to copy, print, add to and when you think of something to add, e-mail and let me know.  There's extra lines for add-ons.......

Stay safe,
Bonnie
horsecamping@comcast.net

Click here to download Camp List for Horses

Nic had shoes put on about 5 weeks ago, but since then I have decided to go camping again and another pair had to be put on.

Shoes seem to wear out faster now than they used to. I have had some shoers tell me it's the metal that's being used.  It's 'softer' than the iron of 20 years ago. I can't say anything to that, but Nic does seem to wear shoes faster than he used to; he wanders around a 40 acre pasture more than he used to.

Since heading to the Sierra again, Nicole, my shoer, decided it was best to put new shoes all around  -- again. She has a way with horses.  She just gets it done. And even with all that horse shoeing, she still has LONG fingernails! Not a split or broken nail on her fingers.

When Nicole shoes, she 'sets' the shoe. She heats the shoe to red hot and then sears it into the bottom of the hoof.  Smoke goes up and it smells horrible but it doesn't hurt the horse. Remember, a horse's hoof is like your fingernail. As long as you don't touch the 'quick' of the nail, it doesn't hurt.  Same with a hoof.  Don't 'quick' the horse and it doesn't hurt to trim or 'sear'.

What I like about 'setting' is the shoe is sort of embedded in to the hoof wall. It burns in and one can tell if the hoof is level to the shoe. Plus, it makes an imprint into the hoof so the shoe sets into this imprint. To me, shoes just seem to stay on better when put on hot. And since we're going to riding in some pretty rocky mountains, shoes have to be really 'set' for this trip.

Here's a couple pictures of Nicole shoeing.......remember, the hot shoe doesn't hurt the horse at all. But a hot shoe sure will burn if one doesn't remember to plunge it in water before touching it!  I can speak of that first hand........and with burned finger!!

T he hikers came back from their trail use -- four of them, a family.  Two adults, two kids in tow and one baby in a backpack. They gathered around the vehicle and each time they walked around, they had to step over or in the horse manure scattered by their vehicle.  They didn't say much but actions could tell they weren't too happy about it.

Now we all use trailheads, staging areas and parking lots. But why don't some of us CLEAN up the horse manure and take it home with us? Why do some of us simply toss it out on the ground and expect other trail users to walk around, through or over it? Believe me, not everyone loves YOUR horse's horse manure like you do!!

I've heard horseowners complain about dog poop in the staging area. But they don't say a word when their horse poop in the parking lot.  Now I know horse manure is completely biodegradable. It dries up.  Other animals scratch around in it for undigested kernels of oats, corn, etc. Birds even use pieces of straw for nesting material. But that doesn't count when it's fresh in a parking lot!!

It still stinks. Draws flies. And squishes when stepped in or on.

If you take your horse manure home with you out of the parking lot, trail head or staging area -- congratulations!! You deserve a GOLD STAR. But if you're one of those that don't, DO IT!!!  Personally, I'm tired of making excuses for other horseowners actions at leaving horse manure behind.  If there's a dumpster or manure bunker to use, put the horse manure in it.  What comes with the horse -- goes back to the barn WITH the horse.......and that includes all the horse manure from the parking lot, staging area or trail head!!