Pack Weight

[live2huntelk]

Obviously different animals (horses vs mules vs llamas) can pack different amounts of weight.

How do you determine how much weight your pack animal can carry?

 

[elkhunter71]

10 to 15% of body weight. Depending on the animals bone structure and build..I have been know to go heavier but only on animals that do it every day and that are in good shape and conditioned.

 

[rayporter]

you see a lot of animals with a bunch more weight than they should be carrying. personally i agree with the 10 -15% limit.

 

[blick]

Max for me is 60 lbs in each pannier and 30 lb top pack when running sawbuck set up.

 

[elkhunter71]

Block how big of a horse or mule are you packing?

 

[elkhunter71]

I have had a lot of people at our clinics argue with me on weight limits because they see the same horse I won't put more than 140 pounds on carry a 200 pound man. The difference is live weight (man) dead weight (packs). A person even the most novice rider will move with a horse while a pack just hands there.

 

[blick]

1000 lb average

 

[mntnguide]

The U.S. calvary way back when decided that a full grown mule could carry 20% of their bodyweight; 25 miles a day; for 6 days a week. And would not wear down or lose weight as long as properly fed and rested through the night. . Now this was including all saddle etc... I tend to use it as a guide line when packing. . I have definitely packed an animal a lot heavier, and also plenty lighter. The biggest thing i think is making sure to properly load and pack the animal so nothing heavy is riding directly on a spot that could become sore etc...Some of our tents at the end of fall after being dug out of 4 feet of snow weighed 150lbs a piece...and one mule in particular had made a name for himself that fall and we put both them on him and he carried it for 18 miles like it weighed nothing...Just gotta know your animals and take care of them

 

[rayporter]

i firmly believe saddle fit is extremely important.

 

[MULEPACKHUNTER]

Saddle fit is a great new thread idea for any animal breed. I tend to go 65 to 70 per side and 10 or 20 on top with a decker. Does not include saddle. My little mule is 14'2 and 1030 and handles it with ease. My big mule is 16 even and 1200 he can take more than I can load. Lol he gets the sane treatment just because I don't need more than that. 5 days I can take all my gear and feed plus their gear with that load. As long as I have decent graze.

 

[MULEPACKHUNTER]

Now to work on the way Robby did his last blog trip, walking with 2 animals and more feed and gear. Perfect set up in my opinion minus the safety factor of walking 2 big beasts. Guess it depends on trail. Most I do I am not sure how safe it will be. Single track on cliffs and steep.

 

[mntnguide]

If the saddle doesn't fit, you will sore them up quick with light loads. ..great point. . Proper saddle fit should be #1 priority before ever loading your animal. .whether decker or sawbuck, they need to be fitted correctly!

 

[yama49]

I agree 10-15% with 15 including saddle gear.our pack horses are 1200-1600. Im going try these pack saddles phillips formfitter just ordered a couple, the video makes sense, so we will see in a few weeks time http://www.outfitterspackstation.com

 

[madx250]

That Form fitter looks like the hot set up.

 

[rayporter]

i have two of the adjustable trees that look like the same tree used in that formfitter. i love them [ and every animal does too]
fat mules to skinny horses they fit every back.

the formfitter looks better with the skirts and all. i bought the tree and added the rigging.

https://search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?p=adjustable+packsaddle&ei=UTF-8&hspart=mozilla&hsimp=yhs-001

 

[rayporter]

another link.

http://www.custompackrigging.com/index.php?id=11

 

[Jason Snyder]

I used Deckers, and would go up to 20% of body weight INCLUDING the saddle/pad. That is about 40 pounds there. The heaviest manties I would load were in the 85-90 pound range. I never used top packs, only basket or barrel hitches.

Keep in mind that anything heavier than that is a real PITA to get on the horse, and is even worse to fix on the trail if it slips and you're on a sidehill.

I have gone heavier on a rare occasion, but for shorter distances.

I agree completely on well fitting saddles, and also good wool pads.

 

[yama49]

another link.

http://www.custompackrigging.com/index.php?id=11

All my pack saddles are from custom. These new formfitters are built more like a horse saddle and pivit with the horse.

 

[MULEPACKHUNTER]

That formfitter looks great, I still have one sawbuck left I may have to grab one and convert out of my last sawbuck.

 

[Coyote Commander]

If they're in shape and in proper body condition, 20% of bodyweight unless youre planning a baton death march.

If not, 10-15%.

I pack my mule "Homer" with 120 lbs a side full of fencing supplies, well equipment, and mineral, which I can guarantee is over 20% (he's not that big) and he handles it like a champ. But he's doing it regularly. Not sitting months and months and than expected to hump a bunch of gear all of a sudden.

Thats in Utah bags on a decker that I can handle one at a time. Also got to take into account what YOU can handle getting up on them.