1. PRE-TRIP CONDITIONING:
It's a good idea to condition
both your animals and yourselves in the weeks preceding this event. The
desert sun is intense, and September can be a month of weather extremes on
the high desert.
Although we have not lost anyone yet, you will have a better time if both
you and your stock are in good condition.
Our wagon train is led by a 4-up of
large Belgian mules who keep up a quick pace. Regular exercise and a
couple of good trail rides before this trip will go a long way to making
sure you and your animals can keep up with the pace. Make sure your animals' feet can handle rough and rocky terrain. Introduce them to "Easy Boot"-type footwear, in case you need it on the trail.
Group riding, and keeping up with the wagon train, make this trail more challenging than it might appear. The trail itself is not difficult for saddle stock. But the energy and excitement of riding in a large, fast-moving group through wide, open spaces can make your horse or
mule harder to manage than usual, which can be un-nerving to many riders. The better prepared you are, the more fun you will have.
Although the trail is not strenuous in the sense
of steep mountain passes with drop-offs, it has its own challenges! So
whatever you can do to prepare yourself and your animals mentally before the
trip, the better time you will have. Getting your saddle stock used to riding with other horses, mules, and donkeys in close groups, keeping up a "productive walk" and accustomed to practicing good trail etiquette will pay off huge dividends! Also, making sure you can
handle your horse or mule in challenging circumstances will make it a lot easier. Fighting with a chargey or spooky horse,
mule, or team for 70+ miles is not fun, but riding or driving a relaxed,
responsive animal or team through spectacular desert wilderness is a
tremendous pleasure.
On the other hand, trainers find this an excellent
trail for breaking in green stock. Just be mindful that others may not appreciate riding or driving near a difficult animal that runs up too close behind them, cuts in front, etc.
Our dress code is simple: While on the trail, arms
must be covered, colors must be within the "historically possible" for the
time period (no day-glow...), and if you are an outrider you must wear
either a helmet or a western-style hat (in other words, no baseball caps).
Leather footwear, please, no sneakers. Otherwise, it's up to you. Jeans and
long-sleeved shirt are fine. Once settled in camp, you may wear whatever you
wish.
However, it can add a lot to the feeling of participating in a historical
re-enactment - plus it makes for way better "photo op's" - if you want to
wear something old-timey.
Historically accurate clothing for women can be problematic today, as ladies in
those days wore long, cumbersome skirts. It's fine to improvise, to mix and
match, bend gender lines a bit, and also draw from later, though still old-time
fashion periods. A modern western ranch look is fine, too.
BUCKAROO BOBBINS,
DENVER FABRICS,
PAST PATTERNS,
and LAUGHING MOON
MERCANTILE
are good resources for patterns and ideas.
- WATER: Drink plenty of water - MUCH more than you
usually drink, More often than you usually drink! Each year, one or more
riders run into problems from not
drinking enough water, so be pro-active and drink up!
- Wear a hat or helmet with a visor, or carry a parasol
- Use sunscreen! Also, even in hot weather, wear long sleeves.
- Be sure to bring whatever medications you
reasonably expect to need
- Get your animal's feet trimmed and/or shod in plenty of time, so they are not footsore at the trip's outset.
- "Barefoot" horses and mules
must wear "easy boots" (any brand - EasyBoot, Cavallo,
Renegade, etc - anything that fits and works) on at least
their front feet. Even if your horse or mule could handle the terrain barefoot, he will appreciate having the boots,
and we have learned to require it at the outset, to avoid problems on
the trail!
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