14 HORSE PACKING 



GENERAL RULES 



Pack animals should be allowed to drink on the 

 march, when they indicate their thirst at fords, etc. 



Pack animals should be groomed, etc., and treated 

 on the same basis as a saddle animal, in order to get 

 the best results. 



Their backs should be carefully examined for burrs 

 before putting on the blanket or aparejo. The hair 

 should lie smooth and in one direction. 



A pack animal must always be blinded when put- 

 ting on the aparejo and loads. If necessary to move to 

 another position, remove the blinders, move, and then 

 put them on again. 



A pack animal, when he puffs himself up while 

 being loaded or just before cinching, should not be ^ic^ej 

 in the bell^ to expel the mnd. Puffing gives the animal a 

 brief pleasure and does not affect the lashing or cinch 

 any — for it has to be tightened anyway a second time 

 shortly after the march begins, owing to the stretch 

 and give of the rope. 



The animals should be treated with kindness. 



A pack animal must have confidence at all times in 

 the men of the outfit for without such implicit confi- 

 dence, time is lost in packing and a thousand other 

 irritating ways. The man is not on the animal's back 

 all the time with spur and bit to hold him in hand and 

 therefore confidence, and afifection, if possible, should 

 be established by uniform kindness. Fords, bad trails, 

 etc., can be negotiated when this confidence exists 

 where there would otherwise be nothing but balkiness 

 and confusion. 



A load should never be adjusted uphill. Turn the 

 animal so he faces downhill. 



Keep the pack train closed up, head to haunch. Do 

 not allow it to straggle out. A wild and erratic ani- 

 mal may be haltered to the pack ahead. Generally a 

 pack train quickly settles down to the single file. 



The complete march for the day should be made 

 without an extended "rest halt" if possible, and then go 

 into the day's camp. In a hilly or mountainous country, 

 short halts are necessary to straighten the loads, 

 tighten them, etc. 



