Just back from an intro clinic on horse packing put on by our Back Country Horseman’s of America (BCHA) https://www.bcha.org/ along with a 4-H horse group. We had 8 kids take part.

Heavy, wet, snow had us in a high tunnel. They learned tack, gear, knots, high lines.

Great, polite, respectful kids. A nice afternoon.

To add, here is lot of good info on this web site.

https://packsaddleshop.com/pages/horse-packing

Thanks, Vince.

Lots of experience there, over 100 years at least. Some packing as a business.

All the kids got some photocopies of parts of joe backs book.

All were encouraged to get with folks from our BCHA chapter and come to our events. It’s a start.

Here is a decent FB page .

Packing in on Mules & Horses-Back Country Stock Users Group

A good book on packing is "Packin' in on Mules and Horses" by Smoke Elser and Bill Brown. It never hurts to look at it from as many angles as possible. These guys like using manties rather than panniers. Both have advantages although panniers are much faster to pack.

If you get your own horses, I recommend finding someone with llamas and getting them acquainted. I have llamas. A couple times, I've run into horses on the trail and things got a bit dicey. The llamas don't do anything but the horses can get a bit lively. One time a horse tried to dance it's way through belly deep deadfall because the rider didn't have the brains to get off and lead it for 10 yards. He came close to ruining a good horse.

Horses really have no clue about llamas. Hard for them to figure out. Of course every situation is different, but dismounting can be very dangerous and a good way to get hurt.

A steady, bombproof mount is invaluable.

Hey Mike buddy, you said knots but I KNOW you meant HITCHES.

Anyway, great to get the kids out learning.

Most clinics also teach. a variety of knots too. Bowlines, square, sheet bend.

Taught three or four knots/hitches. Most of us use the terms interchangeably. 🙄

Just a few hours long and only intro. Fortunately we were in a high tunnel as we got about 5” of wet, blowing, snow.

Nobody has a sense of humor any more.

On the other hand, my mentor would skin me alive for saying "knots" and the Bible actually is "Horses, HITCHES and Rocky Trails." And you can learn your knots at fishing school.
Someone actually teaches square knots?

Anybody need a chill pill?

Hope you used deckers and not friggin sawbucks with panniers and top loads.

Humor has little place when talking horses, or any stock it seems lol.

Nothing funnier than a pack string over a hornet nest!!!

Unless it happens to be your pack string.

Like a rolled load lol

As my late buddy used to say; shît strung from hell to breakfast!

Negatory, ghostrider. These are kids in a 4-H horse club. Zero packing experience. Will offer more training with them this summer.

Plus, do t know anyone here using deckers, manties, etc. Don’t care for deckers myself, but only have a little exposure to them.

Even the “ old hands” there don’t all do things the same.

Good job passing along the knowledge and skills Mike.

Wonder how big a wreck one would have using a tarp for a mantie?
I’m sticking with panniers or at least liners - too wet here on the Kenai peninsula

Thanks, Dan. How ya been?

You might know some of these kids. It’s the new version of the northwind riders.

I've been using my llamas with a Trail Life troop for a number of years. We've normally used panniers but last year I taught them how to mantie a load. I have a 15' inflatable 2-man kayak. I had them break it down and mantie it, including the paddles. It was an ungainly load and I don't think their packing would have survived a 3 mile trip to a lake but they had a great time and learned a lot.