Camping With My 2 Foot and 4 Foot Friends

DISCOVER THE FUN OF CAMPING WITH HORSES IN THE MICHIGAN’S UPPER PENINSULA

Horse people love to go on adventures with their horses and friends. The most common activities are trail rides and competitive horse shows. I have had lots of experience in both these areas and enjoy them dearly. Today however, I am going to tell you about a third less common but equally fun adventure that I have been participating in for several years, horse camping.

Nothing beats a sand bath (Photo by Roweena Langin)

Heading off. (Photo by Roweena Langin)

Ever year a group of my friends and I get together and go camping with our horses and dogs. We load up all the supplies and our 4-footed friends then head to a horse friendly campground. Once there we unload,  put up high lines to tie the horses, and set up camp. When everything is in order we spend the rest of the trip relaxing.

During the days we do a variety of activities ranging from riding horses to going hiking, and lounging around the campsite reading. During the nights we have big meals and tell stories around the campfire.

Taking the horses out for a ride is a big ordeal. The commotion of people move about brushing, spraying bug dope, and tacking the horses causes the animals get really excited. The dogs run around everyone barking and jumping. Some horses stand still while we get them ready and others spin in circles.

Watering the horses after a long ride. (Photo by Roweena Langin)

Once everyone is ready we all mount up and head out on our ride following the many trails guided by maps. When we reach a lake or stream we stop to let the horses and dogs drink and play in it.

The best is when our campsite is near a body of water when after returning from the last ride of the day and removing all the gear, we lead them down to the water so they can play, cool down, and take a sand bath.

If you are a horse person and are looking for a new experience to share with your 2 and 4-footed friends, you may want to consider going camping with them. Here are some useful sites:

Michigan Parks

Michigan State Forest Campgrounds

Wisconsin Parks

Wisconsin State Park Horse Trails

HorseTrailDkrectory.com

Minnesota Parks

Minnesota State Forest Campgrounds

Horses on the high line (Photo by Roweena Langin)

GUIDELINES FOR CAMPING WITH HORSES

• Don’t limit the camping party to just people that are riding. Invite all your friends.
• Have more people then horses. This allows a person to stay back if they want and prevents their horse from going nuts.
• Diets are imposable to keep when camping.
• Everyone bring some TP.
• If you are going for a really long ride bring a water bottle.
• Always check your cinch and stirrups.
• Try to leave someone at the campsite when you leave so you don’t have to lock up everything. This is where those extra people come in handy.
• If you are one of the riders sharing a horse with another person: when the others are gone fill the water bucks and hay bags. It’s a lot easier to do this when the horses are not around.
• Get some of those glow bracelets. We put them on the horse’s halters at night so if one gets loose it’s easier to see them.
• Have a goof first aide kit for horses and one for people.
• Bring warm clothes and blankets regardless of the time of year. It is better to have them and not need them, then to need them and not have them!

Cooling down after a long ride. (Photo by Roweena Langin)

by Roweena Langin

When I was a little girl my parents taught me how to use a camera. I spent my photographic childhood in 4-H taking photos so I could enter them into the yearly county fair and have them judged. I have a BFA in photography from Northern Michigan University. My favorite photographic subjects are sports and nature. My dream career is to be a sports photographer working for a big name team or media. I have been a volunteer photographer for the Beacon House in Marquette for some of their fundraising events. In May 2014 I became a contributor with marquettemagazine.com.

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