08.08.07
Horse Camping in New Hampshire
These pix are from our overnight drive and ride in Tamworth New Hampshire, sponsored by the Granite State Carriage Association on July 20-22. Videos of the carriage drive are at Carriage Driving New Hampshire Mountains Videos.
Friendly Granite State members welcome drivers and riders at hospitality table.
Hubby chats with friend Bob.
Our camping field had a glorious view of Mt. Chocorua.
Overnight horse campers often use temporary electric fencing with step-in plastic posts to make pens for the horses, as we do here with Willy and Gilford. The charger may be solar-powered or battery-operated. Some people carry sections of round pens.
Momma Wil and Gilford heard a noise in the woods! Our truck is parked next to fence using the truck battery to power the fence charger.
We sleep and cook in our 20-ft. gooseneck stock horse trailer, which we have customized to a large extent to suit our needs. In our case, we need to be able to transport the Meadowbrook cart and one or two horses. The cart goes in the front of the trailer with the shafts going up into the goosenect part. With a bit more rigging and a lot more trouble (hanging the cart off the back of the trailer using comealongs) we could haul up to 4 horses AND the cart. Folks get very clever in making customizations to their horse trailers, and we have seen many variations on this theme.
These sorta funky shots can give you an idea of the inside of our trailer while we’re camping…
Front of trailer, showing mattress/bed in gooseneck, shelf dropped on left for cooking space, bridle and harness hooks on right hanging clothing etc. The plywood along the right side is another drop-down shelf which we are not using; this is how it is secured up when we’re hauling. Simple nylon curtains are used as mosquito/fly netting for the bed area. Two plastic storage drawer units (seen on either side of the bed) live in the trailer, stocked with non-perishable supplies. The red curtain/mosquito net at left covers the entry/escape door of the trailer. All this netting requires clever use of collapsible tent poles as curtain rods, velcro and various type of hooks.
Looking towards rear of trailer, space is approx. 8×10 ft. The center divider gate of trailer is closed and mosquito netting covers that ceiling to floor. On really cold nights we hang a tarp where the netting is, which cuts down on drafts and lets the space get pretty warm from the cookstove and lantern. In this front half of the trailer there are plexiglas inserts closing off the side air vents, and styrofoam insulation in the roof stops condensation and helps in warming and cooling.
View from the bedroom window!
Neighbor riders saddling up…
A Gypsy Vanner horse put to a four-wheeled cart, and some riders preparing for their excursion.
Gilford and Hubby start out on our 10-mile drive/ride. We did a 5-miler the first day.
Double-checking the map… both horses are wearing fly masks, some small help against the deer flies.
We found the top!
Looking out to Mt. Chocorua…
Janey Loree said,
August 12, 2007 at 12:39 am
Hi! I voted for your blog using the BLOG VILLAGE voting link so that your blog will show up on the top list. I am working on a BLOG VILLAGE Equine Webring. Let me know if you are interested.
My youngest son has a grey Mustang mare that he wants to train to pull one of their Doctor’s Buggies. Love the view from your bedroom window!