The Horse and Mule Thread.

[2rocky]

Following up on Robby's live horseback hunt, I figured this would be a good pace to trade stories and pictures about out 4 hooved hunting partners.

Elk hunting is as much about the horses as the elk. It is always what I dreamed about as a young kid. Leading a pack string into the mountains and setting up camp with a wall tent and a stove.

When I got into college I took my first summer job in 1993 with an outfitter just so I could learn the ropes. I even got PAID and days off! I thought I was the luckiest 19 year old in Northern Idaho.

The next fall I met the woman who would become my wife and the next summer she took me to Northeastern Oregon to the outfitter SHE worked for. I got to see some new country and got to play at the Hells Canyon Mule days that Fall.

 

[Arrowslinger]

I never had a horse growing up, nor knew anyone that did....but after hunting Eastern Oregon on them a handful of times, i knew i needed (wanted) one. So at age 38, without knowing jack$h!t about them, i got one. Luckily i picked well and ended up with a pretty good horse.

A quick hunt from the house:

 

[Matt Cashell]

Hauling out Kenny's bull two weeks ago...

 

[Hardstalk]

Ill have to find some pictures. I got my first horse at twelve years old. He was 20 and didnt last long. Abraham was a machine! He died on top of me and I was stuck for several hours under him until my father rounded up a tractor to get him off my leg. Went a couple years without another one.

Eventually my parents split in a nasty divorce when i was a teen and left me without a whole lot of options but to get out of the house at a young age. About 15.

Moved in with a friend during high school and his father sat me down and said. " you can stay here scotch free, keep your room clean. And practice till the sun goes down" practice? Practice what?? He says " your my boys new roping partner and you better start catching" within a couple months I learned the hard way what that meant. For about 2 years straight I was on the road high school rodeoing and busting my ass in the saddle. I have piles of buckles and trophies to show for what i learned and earned. Him and i dominated the roping circuit for some time. Calf roping, team roping, team penning. And branding calves.

All the while my now wife was on the same state rodeo team. I just never had time to meet her. We ended up meeting several years after the high school days and between the two of us now have 5 horses total. We dont have a whole lot of time to ride anymore with the baby,crazy work schedules and a house that needs some serious tlc but will never not own horses.

 

[doug in idaho]

Here's a few pictures I had on my work computer. Grew up with horses and followed my dad around on a lot of adventures with them. These pictures are from the last pack in hunt he will probably ever do. That's him sitting in front of the tent.

 

[2rocky]

Nice guys. Keep 'em coming.
2011 Wyoming
This is Snoopy checking out his first dead elk. Dad is leading my gelding Shorty.

Pack horses? We ain't waiting for no pack horses! Lashed on the Riding saddle for the walk back to camp.

 

[fillthefreezer]

loving this thread, its a dream for now though. ive got the acreage, the wife wants em bad, just no barn or trailer or tack, so no need for the horses either yet

 

[cnelk]

Some pics of 'back in the day' when I did the horse thing....

 

[cnelk]

A few more

 

[cnelk]

And I did the 'mule thing' too....

 

[robby denning]

I love this thread. Keep the pics coming, old and new.

As Bitterroot Bulls has said on here before: there is just something right about hunting with horses (and mules).

 

[2rocky]

Packing in my 2010 elk on some rental horses.

 

[2rocky]

2007 we walked back 6 miles to camp with my elk on the saddle horses. I'd bumped a grizzly before I shot this bull and I wasn't sticking around any longer than I had to.

This is the Basket sling with a "Crowsfoot" on a riding saddle. I carry 50 foot of 3/8 inch climbing rope

this was a barrel hitch made with 100 feet of parachute cord. You do what you have to...

Note. I don't saw or chop quarters any more. that is too dang much work! Gutless all the way.

 

[2rocky]

I think this bull my brother in law shot in 2007 is the front quarters and head in panniers and with a box hitch on the head.

Takes a reasonably wide bull to be able to pack the head like this but it rode well. I've started doing a half hitch on the nose to each side with good results and minimal hair rub.

 

[robby denning]

Eduacational pics and great bulls

 

[robby denning]

My favorite saddle horse, Rain, and her half sister Missy.
Rain is a half Thoroughbred and half Appolousa, while Missy is full Appolousa. Rain is tougher than dirt.

 

[Matt Cashell]

My friend, Trip.

I lost him last winter. I miss him a lot.

 

[2rocky]

Good to see folks have special horses in their lives too.

We put down my wife's Mare, Candy Bar Chip, this Monday. I guess that is what got me thinking about the whole horses thing.

My wife had her from a filly when Candy's mother died in 1985

She rode her in the Eagle cap wilderness leading dudes when I met her. She rode her in 5 states that I can gather. ID, WA, OR, NV, and CA
Nat helpning gather cattle in Marin County. 2008?

While she was a High headed unpredictable critter for the first 15 years of life, she mellowed out and became the kid's horse

My Middle daughter claimed her at an early age.

She showed her in 4H the last 2 years.

 

[robby denning]

Great show on a great horse. Unfortunately, at some point, we've all got to make that same decision. If you want to see a grown man cry, come around when I have to make that same decision.

What happened to Trip and Candy Bar Chip to bring about the decision?

 

[Matt Cashell]

I didn't put him down. He coliced and twisted for unknown reasons and didn't make it to the vet in time. It was tragic, and I still wish I had somehow seen there was a problem earlier. Tough to talk about.