Stringing horses

[Elkslayer15]

Hey guys! New here! I’ve hunted Idaho my whole life and packed a lot of elk/deer. Have usually had other people to lead my other pack horses. But as I get older life gets busier and dad and brothers aren’t always able to come. I’ve got some young horses all pretty gentle. What’s everyone do for training them to be led in strings?

 

[mntnguide]

Just put them in a string.. not much else you can do in terms of training imo. Make sure to use breakaway so you have weak links that will break, between each animal in case something happens. Don't give them long leads where they are stepping over the lead rope every time you stop cause they go to eating..i leave just enough they can get their head down for water etc, but not enough they can get away with a bunch of wandering.

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[Bannedinshortorder!]

Tie em together and go.
I typically have a break away of bailling twine or manila rope at the saddle connection.

 

[Elkslayer15]

Thank you guys.

 

[Tobe_B]

Not much to it really. Like said above, tie them together and go. Breakaway stings attached to solid points on the saddle, and tie some type of slip not to the breakaway. I’ve had them not break and need to quick release. Also a good idea to carry a flat ended knife so you can slide it under a rope and not worry about stabbing in to an animal. Needed that a few times as well.

 

[Pony Soldier]

I have had some that don't like to follow. Pick a trail with a lot of trees so they learn how to follow.

By the time you have a couple blowups, you will figure out what sequence they prefer.

 

[cowboy]

I’m more conservative than the majority here - maybe it’s due to all the wrecks I’ve been involved with. If I got a green pack horse I start out in the corral, if things are lining out, I’ll add another one behind the green one. After a couple days of that it’s down a 2 track road. The more miles in a calm manner is now my method.
Every horse, individual and string has its own personalities.
To each their own.

 

[Elkslayer15]

I’m more conservative than the majority here - maybe it’s due to all the wrecks I’ve been involved with. If I got a green pack horse I start out in the corral, if things are lining out, I’ll add another one behind the green one. After a couple days of that it’s down a 2 track road. The more miles in a calm manner is now my method.
Every horse, individual and string has its own personalities.
To each their own.

Hey thank you for this. That’s kind of my speed. rodeos in the backcountry are not very fun at all.

 

[Bannedinshortorder!]

Your #1 problem will be packing with horses.
I can only hope you don't have any mares.

Mules are far better followers.

 

[cowboy]

Hey thank you for this. That’s kind of my speed. rodeos in the backcountry are not very fun at all.

If this is the approach you decide to take I’d add that after a few times of going down a 2 track I’ll go until I get a pretty good sweat going on the stock. When I get home I’ll tie the lead pack horse up to my hitching rail and leave the rest of the string attached and let them just stand and relax for as long as you can keep an eye on them doing something else. Hours of this is better than minutes. Good stock is made with lots of time and sweaty saddle pads.

In my opinion it is best to lead a pack string with the best, calmest horse or mule you have. It’s not a matter of - if the feces is going to hit the rotator it’s only a matter of when - and it’s usually totally unexpected. If you’re leading with something that has more than 2 firing brain cells and will react to your directions you have a much better chance of calming things down before it gets totally western.