Finding Lost Horses and Mules in the Backcountry


by Russ Barnett - Date: 2006-12-01 - Word Count: 474 Share This!

If you spend much time in the wilderness, sooner or later your trusty steed and his sidekick are going to turn up missing. Whenever you take your stock in the backcountry, you always risk the chance that one of your stock or all of your stock might wander off. So what do you do? Someone once told me you will always find your lost horse in their last tracks. While this may seem like obvious advice, it is a vital place to look. The first thing I usually do when looking for a stray horse or mule is to check the back trail for tracks. Chances are your stock is going to head for your starting point, but I caution you that doesn't always hold true. Look around to determine which way your stock could have headed. Try to follow your stock's tracks by determining where the worn terrain is.

Go Prepared
Always think of the worst possible scenario before heading out, and then think of everything you would have wanted to have with you to make the situation go easier for you. Whether you are going after stock that may be headed 20 plus miles back to your trailer or stock that may be just around the bend to that big meadow, I can't stress enough how important it is to go prepared. As much as you try, you can't predict what might happen when going out in the backcountry. If worse comes to worse, and you do have to walk out, I certainly hope you brought something to wear besides cowboy boots. Think ahead to what kind of footwear you would want to wear if you were forced to walk over 20 miles. Below I listed some key items to have in order to be prepared: Halters Leads Grain in a feedbag Extra food for yourself Rain coat Flashlight Vehicle keys

Horse Bells & Highlines
I also use Horse Bells. These are usually just a small cow bell on a strap that goes around the horse's neck. The sound of the bell lets me know that my hobbled or picketed stock is still nearby. If they do decide to take off, I can follow the sound of the bell to where they are headed or hiding. Sometimes it is easier to track the horse bell than the horse. Many people leave the horse bells on all night just to know that their horses are still in camp and that all is well. I always keep at least one saddle horse securely tied on the highline at all times for just such emergencies.

Keeping your Stock in Camp Never graze more than half your stock at once. Hobble, picket, or fence them in with a portable electric fence. Stock that is not grazing or fenced should be tied to a horse highline on a hitch rail.


Related Tags: stock, backcountry, lost stock, lost mules, lost horse, lost horses, wilderness, tracking, grazing

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