If the horse camp has corrals (like the ones seen here), your horse-containment headaches are over. If not, you’ll need to either bring a portable corral or be prepared to highline your horse. | Photo: Kim McCarrel

June is National Camping Month! To help get you ready for an adventure of your own, we’re rolling out a three-part series on camping with horses. In Part Two, we’ll focus on how to vacation at a designated horse camp.

Once you’ve tried horse camping at a facility with equine and human accommodations (which we discussed in Part One), or if you’re just ready to jump into the wilderness, designated horse camps are a great option. Most horse camps are located at the nexus of several trails so you can park your truck and trailer, set up your base camp, ride out each day, and return to your truck and trailer each evening.

If you’re new to horse camping, look for a campground with corrals or highlines, potable water and/or stock water, and manure bins. These amenities can simplify your horse-keeping regimen while you’re out in the woods. If the campsite you select doesn’t offer these features, you’ll need to have a way to contain your horse, bring all the water you and your horse will need for the trip, and remove all the waste your horse leaves behind.

Horse Containment

If the horse camp has corrals, your horse-containment headaches are over. If not, you’ll need to either bring a portable corral or be prepared to highline your horse. Highlining isn’t a difficult skill once you’ve mastered it, but you’ll need to have the right type of rope and know how to tie several types of knots. You can find an excellent how-to-highline video at trailmeister.com