Going to Need More Than a Hoof Pick

What do you keep in your saddle bag when you are heading out for a trail ride?  Water?  Chapstick? Hoof pick?  Vet wrap?  Bear spray?  Pop tarts and cheetos?

Sometimes, no matter how prepared you are, you just cannot prepare for some situations.  With my husband and I owning a trail riding facility we have witnessed or been involved in some of those mentioned situations.  Women getting their shirts, vests, and bras hooked on the saddle horn is always the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about odd predicaments.  Then people peeing their pants.  That has happened for all sorts of reasons…laughing too hard, mule jumps, crossing a ditch, etc. 

Now, don’t even get me started with tack failures.  The most common one we have witnessed is the latigo breaking or becoming loose causing the saddle to slip and the rider to hit the dirt.  A lot of tack failures come from leather not being conditioned and breaking such as a fender, a billet, or a rein. 

With such random things happening while trail riding, how do you know what to bring with you?  That brings me to the most common but odd situation that needs to be brought to the front of your thoughts before your next trail ride. 

Large rocks the size of a softball can get wedged in your mule’s hoof.  This is even more likely when they have on shoes.  During winter, huge, compacted snowballs can form that can harm the mule’s ligaments and cause serious injury.  Even sticks and tree roots can get wedged in the shoe.

In each of these cases, something larger and sturdier was needed in addition to a hook pick.  I have personally seen a hammer, chisel, fencing pliers, a flathead screwdriver, and another rock were called to duty. 

When you are packing your trailer to go on your next adventure, make sure you throw in something that can get the job done!

Happy trails and happy hooves!!!

By Brandy Von Holten