Trip Preparation

[TinyTexasCowgirl]

So Maurice and I are FINALLY going on our honeymoon. The plan is to haul our own horses into a " dude" ranch just north of Colorado springs. it backs up to a national forest and some mountains. We are gonna spend the week riding and relaxing. This isn't something we have done before, so looking for tips.
We are tryin to decide if we want to take a third horse and pack into the forest for a couple of days. What would y'all say? Any tips on what to take?

[SCHitemHard]

protection unless you want any youngins 

[justincorbell]

Make the drive to pikes peak, its well worth it, check out a coags (colorado outdoor adventure guide school) they may have open cabins for rental and they are very very secluded with full horse accommodations. I do NOT suggest wasting the money/time on the school but the place/location itself is awesome, i saw elk, mule deer, black bear and tons of other animals while on horseback there. Beautiful country! PM me if you would like more info.


"the sun is shining somewhere in texas" -Jason Boland

[TinyTexasCowgirl]

protection unless you want any youngins 

Well.... Actually.... That's not a concern we have.

Make the drive to pikes peak, its well worth it, check out a coags (colorado outdoor adventure guide school) they may have open cabins for rental and they are very very secluded with full horse accommodations. I do NOT suggest wasting the money/time on the school but the place/location itself is awesome, i saw elk, mule deer, black bear and tons of other animals while on horseback there. Beautiful country! PM me if you would like more info.


"the sun is shining somewhere in texas" -Jason Boland

I would love to know more about this, but we already reserved a non-refundable cabin at that ranch. We would sure be interested in info for next year though.

[SCHitemHard]

have fun meg me and chlo are gettin hitched in 55 days...already paid for our place for the honeymoon

[TinyTexasCowgirl]

have fun meg me and chlo are gettin hitched in 55 days...already paid for our place for the honeymoon

Wow time flies!! I remember when you broke the news that y'all was getting married!! Congrats, although I don't seem to remember having gotten my invitation...

[SCHitemHard]

uhh... well if yall want to take a nice trip to see the great lakes

i could always take marice to the horseshoe casino..

[TinyTexasCowgirl]

uhh... well if yall want to take a nice trip to see the great lakes

i could always take marice to the horseshoe casino..

I'm sure we could figure something out, but I think it's gonna hit while we are on our Colorado trip or when he goes offshore. Lol

[SCHitemHard]

the inlaws just came back from there so i know you will have fun, they took maybe 500 pictures and saw alot of wildlife!!

[TinyTexasCowgirl]

That's what we are hoping for... Just never really packed in or camped with horses, so I'm trying to figure out little hints and tips.

[SCHitemHard]

tie your horses away from the house, give them enough room to move but still stay tied. we like to make a line tie out between two trees

[tuskbuster]

if ya plan on being overnight out in the hills make sure ya take hobbles for the nags,they have a better time . if ya are just likely to spend a night out, wouldnt recomend the extra hoss and make sure you got em legged up,them old hills will take it out of them

[Bar W]

Aside from negative coggins your mounts have to have a clean bill of health within 30 days of your visit. Also will have to buy certified weed free hay in Colorado and I wouldn't advise getting caught with good Ol coastal Bermuda up there. Your horses will have just as hard a time adjusting to the elevation as you will so be prepared to switch to dude ranch mounts if it's to much for them. Also archery season starts august 25 and runs the whole month of September, muzzle loader season is the middle of September. Orange flags and or vests plus a certain amount of orange on your horse is required. Check with the rangers station and Colorado DOW for all rules an regs. I'll be up there myself for the start of elk season aug 25 in a different area we ride mules and usually saddle bags and one pack mule per two people is good for 3 nights in the back country. Take more water with you than you think you can drink in two days for a one day outing. Have fun.

[PLP]

A tarp to put under the tent is always handy, I like it a little oversized so I can let it hang out from under the front and use it kinda like a porch for shoes etc. Aside from all the bottled water you think you'll ever need  a first aid kit could be handy. Oh and some rope for a clothes line to tie between trees. Have a great time.

[TinyTexasCowgirl]

Aside from negative coggins your mounts have to have a clean bill of health within 30 days of your visit. Also will have to buy certified weed free hay in Colorado and I wouldn't advise getting caught with good Ol coastal Bermuda up there. Your horses will have just as hard a time adjusting to the elevation as you will so be prepared to switch to dude ranch mounts if it's to much for them. Also archery season starts august 25 and runs the whole month of September, muzzle loader season is the middle of September. Orange flags and or vests plus a certain amount of orange on your horse is required. Check with the rangers station and Colorado DOW for all rules an regs. I'll be up there myself for the start of elk season aug 25 in a different area we ride mules and usually saddle bags and one pack mule per two people is good for 3 nights in the back country. Take more water with you than you think you can drink in two days for a one day outing. Have fun.

The ranch said they don't require the weed free hay, so is this only in park areas, or is it even on private property as well?

What part of Colorado are you goin to? Have a buddy that packs into the area around Buda (spelling?) and Hamilton every year for elk bow hunting. He is gearing his mares up right now. This will be those old girls last trip. Pennie is turning 19 this year and Dolly is turning 17. They've been every year for the last 10 and have sure earned their retirement. Next year will be Bucky and Bismarck's first time.

if ya plan on being overnight out in the hills make sure ya take hobbles for the nags,they have a better time . if ya are just likely to spend a night out, wouldnt recomend the extra hoss and make sure you got em legged up,them old hills will take it out of them

None of mine are broke to hobbles, but they will all stand tied for days so I think that's our plan. As far as the other horse, I'm cool with camping, and I ain't highs maintence as far as bathing and fire and that kind of stuff for one night, HOWEVER, I REFUSE to sleep totally exposed outside or in the ground, so the mare will mostly carry the food, tent, sleeping bags, and air mattress. Lol I am a woman, I do have certain criteria.

tie your horses away from the house, give them enough room to move but still stay tied. we like to make a line tie out between two trees

I was wondering about this... I could see the need for a hi line if it was going to be multiple nights, but for just one, would just tying to a tree work ok?

[Bar W]

Private property rules vary as far as I know but weed free hay is required on all national forest land. Also I believe it is against the rules to tie horses to trees over night, either high line or portable corral. We use an electric corral but we are in the back country for four or five days at a time. Also no horses tied out within 100' of a stream. I'll be in the sauache wilderness southeast of gunnison.

[SCHitemHard]

meg i wouldnt. if they get spooked and wrap their line around the tree and then their neck you will be walkin out by yourself. also do remember that wildlife will be around, the horses will need to be able to get away in case somethin goes south

[RL]

Sounds like a fun trip.  Enjoy.

[Swine-Stalker]

Make a run through Estes Park. Seen tons of elk, a few mulies, yotes, and a few rocky mountain goats. They even have some of the original settlement cabins in the valleys you can walk to.  Saw a doe and a couple fawns in a creek bend playing when we went white water rafting. That was 12yrs ago. all this talk makes me want to go back. Have fun!