Pack saddles

[SpeedyPony]

Thinking of doing weekend rides/ride and camp type things in the summer and I'm sorely tempted by one of the proper adjustable pack saddles for this, trouble is they only seem to be available from Canada/America.
Has anyone ever had any success using a normal saddle as a pack saddle? For a weekend ride I can't imagine I'd have more than 4/5 stone of equipment/supplies, so it wouldn't be a lot of weight on the saddle, but I imagine it would be harder on their backs than a rider as it won't make any effort to balance itself!
I'm guessing on equipment weight- I'll have to weigh tent/stove/etc before making any real plans.
Any thoughts/advice/anecdotes?

 

[Cortez]

I wouldn't try to use a riding saddle for packing, it'll be impossible to secure everything in a balanced, unmovable way. Some of the American packing sites ship overseas, why don't you enquire?

 

[SpeedyPony]

There's a well rated Canadian company that sells adjustable pack saddles overseas, which is something I'm seriously considering but I'm wondering if it is more fiscally responsible to try a few rides before dropping several hundred on a pack saddle
I did wonder if there might be one of the old military adjustable types kicking about in this country but sadly thay seem to be in short supply (and given rarity, any in use able condition probably aren't cheap either).

 

[planete]

I just hung bags from the saddle I was riding on which had plenty of metal D rings and carried absolutely minimal equipment. A small spring scale is a good investment to make sure you load both sides of the horse evenly. I did not cook, got off and walked with the horse for ten minutes of every hour and did no more than fifteen miles a day. You need a bomb proof horse who will tie up anywhere and a solid rigid tree saddle, a pair of wire cutters is a good idea to cope with blocked bridleways (you mend the cut wire once you are through) or to free your horse if he steps on hidden wire. Bridleways are regularly not as they appear on maps and provide more headaches too.

I would not sling a load across a riding saddle, it would really be too insecure and could ruin the saddle. If you are serious about travelling on horseback, have a look at the Long Riders Guild website for a wealth of experience and information. There are a few people attempting epic journeys on horseback from time to time and, unless they are very clued up, the horses suffer and sometimes come to grief. Do your planning well with expert help and
keep safe.

 

[GypsGal1718]

I would just buy the pack saddle and not risk injury to the horse and or damage to the saddle

 

[SpeedyPony]

I just hung bags from the saddle I was riding on which had plenty of metal D rings and carried absolutely minimal equipment. A small spring scale is a good investment to make sure you load both sides of the horse evenly. I did not cook, got off and walked with the horse for ten minutes of every hour and did no more than fifteen miles a day. You need a bomb proof horse who will tie up anywhere and a solid rigid tree saddle, a pair of wire cutters is a good idea to cope with blocked bridleways (you mend the cut wire once you are through) or to free your horse if he steps on hidden wire. Bridleways are regularly not as they appear on maps and provide more headaches too.

I would not sling a load across a riding saddle, it would really be too insecure and could ruin the saddle. If you are serious about travelling on horseback, have a look at the Long Riders Guild website for a wealth of experience and information. There are a few people attempting epic journeys on horseback from time to time and, unless they are very clued up, the horses suffer and sometimes come to grief. Do your planning well with expert help and
keep safe.

The bombproof ponies I've got! The rest I'll need to organise. The long riders guild website is a good shout, I've had a brief look on there before but shall have to go more in depth.
I'm thinking that the first stay away ride will only be a trip of about 10-15 miles out and then back the next day, the ponies have done 20ish miles in a day before (no tent etc) with no issues, so I'm happy they are solid for the travel part, just not sure about the pack element.
I think I might have to bite the bullet on a proper pack saddle tbh- at least if fuel prices keep rising they can earn their keep carrying my groceries back from the shop
The hopping off for breaks is a good shout- for all day rides I usually do the first and last couple of miles on the ground and give a break mid-ride for a graze, but multiple days I can see why breaks each hour is a good shout!

 

[Widgeon]

Try joining this group, it's a helpful community and you'll probably find that there are pack saddles kicking around the UK (for sale) - you just need to find one.

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[Widgeon]

WHY do all Facebook links on this forum have a little German intro? An incidental puzzle I have briefly pondered many times over the last year or so....

 

[SpeedyPony]

Joined, pending approval
I've never been able to work out why German either!

 

[Glitter's fun]

Thinking of doing weekend rides/ride and camp type things in the summer and I'm sorely tempted by one of the proper adjustable pack saddles for this, trouble is they only seem to be available from Canada/America.
Has anyone ever had any success using a normal saddle as a pack saddle? For a weekend ride I can't imagine I'd have more than 4/5 stone of equipment/supplies, so it wouldn't be a lot of weight on the saddle, but I imagine it would be harder on their backs than a rider as it won't make any effort to balance itself!
I'm guessing on equipment weight- I'll have to weigh tent/stove/etc before making any real plans.
Any thoughts/advice/anecdotes?

You could talk to Danby. They make deer saddles .

Deear saddles and all field sports equipment made and restored at Danby Equestrian

Deer saddles made and restored by Danby Equestrian

www.danbyequestrian.co.uk

If you think a deer/"working" saddle would suit your purposes a wanted ad. on the Highland pony soc. would find you one ;-

https://www.highlandponysociety.com/category/ponies-for-sale/

Equine Unlimited, in Perthshire use proper pack saddles - you could ask where they get them from

Horses | Equine Unlimited | Scotland

Positive reinforcement training of horses in a stunning environment. Promotion of barefoot and bitless horsemanship. Hacking and livery available and clinics and courses on offer, inc saddle tramping at Equine Unlimited

www.equineunlimited.co.uk

 

[SpeedyPony]

You could talk to Danby. They make deer saddles .

Deear saddles and all field sports equipment made and restored at Danby Equestrian

Deer saddles made and restored by Danby Equestrian

www.danbyequestrian.co.uk

If you think a deer/"working" saddle would suit your purposes a wanted ad. on the Highland pony soc. would find you one ;-

https://www.highlandponysociety.com/category/ponies-for-sale/

Equine Unlimited, in Perthshire use proper pack saddles - you could ask where they get them from

Horses | Equine Unlimited | Scotland

Positive reinforcement training of horses in a stunning environment. Promotion of barefoot and bitless horsemanship. Hacking and livery available and clinics and courses on offer, inc saddle tramping at Equine Unlimited

www.equineunlimited.co.uk

Thank you, I will have a look at those
ETA- just had a glance, looks like they also have restored pack saddles in the past- which might be better, I think they're usually only moving deer at a walk? Not that I plan on hammering them, but it's always useful to be able to trot on here and there. Shall have to pop them on the list to contact when I'm feeling flush enough for a new saddle!

 

[Glitter's fun]

Also, I can't find a link but Grampian Saddlery Workshop, Lethenty Mill, Inverurie used to do a lot of estate saddlery work for those that still retain the garrons.

Yes, garrons/deer is at a walk. The Equine unlimited ones are more like a proper pack saddle.

 

[rabatsa]

I have sent you a pm.

 

[Keith_Beef]

Bats et accessoires - Sellerie du Meneur

bats à croisillon : patin fixe/anatomique 2 ou 4 patins amovibles tapis protection/tapis laine synthétique couvre charge étanche semelle d'appui PVC alvéolé avaloir/bricole cuir/sangle sac de charge/de boudin dossière musette à grain vache à eau

www.selleriedumeneur.fr

Bât - Matériel d'équitation

Spécialiste du bât et du battage, Tracthorse équipement vous propose une très large gamme pour votre animal, qu’il s’agisse d’un cheval, d’un âne ou d’une mule.

www.tracthorse.com

Bât

www.sellerie-baude.com

 

[SpeedyPony]

Bats et accessoires - Sellerie du Meneur

bats à croisillon : patin fixe/anatomique 2 ou 4 patins amovibles tapis protection/tapis laine synthétique couvre charge étanche semelle d'appui PVC alvéolé avaloir/bricole cuir/sangle sac de charge/de boudin dossière musette à grain vache à eau

www.selleriedumeneur.fr

Bât - Matériel d'équitation

Spécialiste du bât et du battage, Tracthorse équipement vous propose une très large gamme pour votre animal, qu’il s’agisse d’un cheval, d’un âne ou d’une mule.

www.tracthorse.com

Bât

www.sellerie-baude.com

Thank you, that looks promising!

 

[Glitter's fun]

Bats et accessoires - Sellerie du Meneur

bats à croisillon : patin fixe/anatomique 2 ou 4 patins amovibles tapis protection/tapis laine synthétique couvre charge étanche semelle d'appui PVC alvéolé avaloir/bricole cuir/sangle sac de charge/de boudin dossière musette à grain vache à eau

www.selleriedumeneur.fr

Bât - Matériel d'équitation

Spécialiste du bât et du battage, Tracthorse équipement vous propose une très large gamme pour votre animal, qu’il s’agisse d’un cheval, d’un âne ou d’une mule.

www.tracthorse.com

Bât

www.sellerie-baude.com

Interesting that a couple of those places are selling Swiss army saddles. I wonder if they still use horses or is that the name of a style of saddle now? (Just musing, don't derail the thread!)