Good reads
Reviewed by Carol Upton
www.dreamsaloud.ca
“Horse campers enjoy the role their horses
play. The horse is not only a means of getting
campers into the wilderness, but also a partner
in an adventure. Part of the excitement is our
awareness that the partnership of man and horse
goes back to the earliest times” ~ George B.
Hatley
This practical guide is a “must read” if you
are headed into the backcountry on horseback.
Hatley draws on his years of experience as a
rancher/outfitter to cover everything you need
to know, from trip planning to horse gear, safe
camp set-up, and striking the next day. Getting
into the wilderness on horseback promises an
unparalleled adventure, one that folks in our hurry-up world often crave,
but guidance and organization are needed to do it safely.
Hatley says that horses are capable of doing much more work than people
realize. He believes that, properly conditioned and outfitted, both saddle and
packhorses are capable of being used in either capacity. One chapter
includes sections on horse disposition, size, trail training, common horse
sense and rider conditioning.
Excellent and often dramatic photos by Lewis Portnoy draw the reader into planning their own wilderness adventure. This book is definitely the place
to start.
George B. Hatley has a passion for both the Pacific Northwest’s Palouse
country and the horses named for it. He is nicknamed “Mr. Appaloosa” and
is a legend revered among Appaloosa enthusiasts. Now in his nineties,
George has slowed down at last, but his sage advice endures.