Done well, horse camping is an exhilarating, relaxing time away from the daily grind, in company of nature and your equine companion. | Photo: Courtesy Travel Alberta

Top tips to prepare for a horse camping trip

Camping with horses can both relax and exhilarate. It could be the fresh air, the expansive vistas, the solitude separating you from crowds and traffic that soothe the soul. Or it might be the unique wildlife seen along the trail or the bird calls high overhead as you watch the sunrise and sip a hot cup of coffee … all in the company of your best equine buddy.

Whatever it is that makes it so rewarding, camping does take serious planning and contemplation—even practice. Then there are the details of caring for your horses. How do you keep them secured at night? What if a horse gets sick in the backcountry? And how do you plan for enough food and water?

Camping is all about simplicity and going back to nature. But adding horses to the picture means you must make many more considerations