Added: 10/24/2005 |
Fun Horse HotelsTraveling with your horse has become a popular pastime for families. These four-legged friends can be towed behind your truck and taken to many campsites across the United States. Horses are great companions and they make hiking on trails a little easier, especially for children or adults with limited mobility. Those that can't take long hikes can still enjoy the beauty of many parks with the help of their horses.
Finding horse hotels or campsites that welcome equines isn't very difficult; in fact you may be surprised that some of your favorite outdoor recreation areas have special sites for families and their horses. Malabar Farm near Mansfield, Ohio has a great separate campsite for horse enthusiasts. Visitors can ride their horses over many specially designated trails and enjoy the vast acreage at their leisure. Owners are expected to keep up their sites and clean them daily to make the area pleasant for everyone. If you forget your hay or grain you can still find the items near the campsite as well as firewood for a campfire.
Gettysburg, PA is another fun place to take your trusty steed for a horse vacation. The horse hotels or campsites include hitches as well as hay, grain and easy access to local tack shops in case you forget some gear or break any existing items. Since horse trails are so popular at Gettysburg you would have to make reservations to ride one of the stable horses on site. If you bring your own horse you won't have to make any reservations; just show up for a scheduled trail ride and view parts of this park that aren't accessible any other way.
A trip to the western United States wouldn't be complete without camping with your travel horse. Many campsites can be found in these states. The Horse and Mule Trails USA is a great place to find listings in every state for horse hotels that welcome both you and your pets. Sleep under the stars with your horse nearby and enjoy a campfire like a cowboy from a Wild West movie. Some of the campsites in the west also have ranch style round ups and barbeques for their visitors. Learn how to rope calves and other cowboy jobs while using your own horse at these ranches.
No matter which horse hotels you choose from packing and preparing your horse for the trip is the most important part of the journey. Although many horse hotels sites have hay and grain available for your horse, just as many do not. Call ahead to confirm all amenities at the campsite just in case you may forget something. Find out whether there are hitches at the site otherwise you will need to bring a picket hobble or strong ties for a halter. Occasionally you may need to tie your horse to a log, especially if you are using a packhorse. Practice before you leave for your vacation so your horse gets used to the idea of being tied or hobbled this way. If you are planning on extensive trail riding have your horse shod a week before your trip so you can have a shoe fixed if it falls off before you leave. Bring along an easy boot in case your horse loses a shoe.
A final concern for any person taking their horse to high altitude horse hotels - let your horse get acclimated to the area before taking them on a trail ride. Some horses may refuse to drink water for several days and many can drop dead from exhaustion in high altitude areas. Remember that if your horse dies on a trail in any park you are responsible for removing them yourself.
Plan ahead for any circumstance that may arise when you take your horse on trail rides and camp at a horse hotel. Let your forest ranger know your travel plans before you set out in case you get lost and miss a checkpoint. Pack lightly for your horse's comfort and obey all park rules. Traveling with your horse can be a very enjoyable experience if you are prepared for the journey.
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