Camping With a Horse
Posted by Nicki | May 29, 2012
Camping is the ultimate outdoors holiday as you enjoy the experience of sleeping under the stars, cooking on a campfire and being at one with nature.
It’s also the ideal holiday for your horse as many campsites are extremely welcoming towards horses and well situated.
If you want to take your four legged friend on a camping trip, it’s likely that you and he will get a huge benefit from this; however you might want to make a few considerations before you make arrangements or you may end up having to sell your horse!
1. Are they horse friendly?
There is a big difference between allowing animals and welcoming them, so it’s a good idea to ensure that whichever camp site you’re looking at, they are welcoming to horses. They may have paddocks for him to exercise in or even their own horses for socialisation but finding a campsite which will welcome your horse with open arms will make your stay a lot easier than finding one who only welcomes him begrudgingly.
2. Do they allow other animals or have animals themselves who might spook your horse?
That said, if your horse is nervous or not used to socialising then dropping him off in the middle of a farm full of horses and hoping that he’ll get used to it will not make for a relaxing holiday. Consider the type of animals they have. He might be used to other horses but not like sheep and the introduction of sheep could make for some very interesting behaviour.
3. Are they situated near to loud noises which might upset your horse?
Although the majority of camp sites are likely to be set in the country, it’s worth checking out the local landscape and use to make sure that there aren’t any activities, industries or local noise pollutions which could upset or spook him.
4. Do they have stabling facilities or good parking for your trailer?
Whether you’re arriving in a trailer or trekking to the site, you’ll need to make sure that your horse has somewhere safe and comfortable for the night. Depending on your situation, you’ll either need good parking close to the actual camping field for your trailer or access to stables where you can settle him for the evening.
5. Are they close to local amenities and supply shops in case you need something urgently?
Even the most prepared of people can forget hay, treats or food or these can quickly run out so finding a campsite in the middle of nowhere might seem appealing from a peace and quiet perspective but just make sure it’s the most practical option.
6. Are they close to walks and exercise?
Whatever your plans for your stay might be, the chances are that he’ll need some exercise so finding a site which is close to the beach, the open road or a trekking lane is a great idea.
6. Do they have running water and a power source?
Finally, you’ll need running water as a must have for him (and you) but a power source where you can plug in a fan or a heater (depending on the weather) could also stand you in really good stead.
Guest blog post written by Linda Carter is a horse lover who blogs on family life, horses for loan, animals and pets.
Here at Gear-Zone, we have everything for camping in the great outdoors - except, of course, for the horse!
Check out our range of tents from Terra Nova, Wild Country, Vango, Nemo and Jack Wolfskin, and sleeping bags from brands including Rab, Mammut and Gelert.
