Trail and Pack Horse Clinic

For our Trail and Packhorse clinics, I partnered up with Doug Goodwin from Luxor Corralls in Edgewater, BC.  Doug is a 3rd generation outfitter, guide, and lifelong horseman. Luxor Corrals offers the perfect setting for this course, with lots of room to camp, and endless trails for evening rides. It’s located in the Purcell Mountains with magnificent views and great backcountry opportunities.

In 2025 we will offer a weekend pack clinic and a 4-day course with the option of an overnight trip afterward.

The two-day weekend course focuses on the pack horse and the most important hitches. The 4 day course goes deeper adding horse care, trip planning, first aid and additional hitches of the trade. 

Our clinics are hands-on, with everything provided for you to practice and learn. For people who want to put into action right away what they have learned, we offer a “participant-planned” two-day pack trip on days 5 and 6. Horses and gear, everything is supplied (except sleeping bags).

 

2025 dates:

Email us, in case you you would like to be put on a stand by list. Sometimes a cancellation will free up a spot.

 4-day clinic: 

  • May 3 to May 6 (Clinic full)
  • May 10 to May 13 (Clinic full)

 6-day version:  

  • May 3 to May 8  (Clinic full)
  • May 10 to May 15 (Clinic full)

2 day weekend clinic:

  • May 10 to May 11 (Clinic full)

 

Course Outline:

Day 1:

  • The Trail and Packhorse
  • Pack Saddles
  • Saddling the packhorse
  • The most common hitches and knots
  • Practicing hitches and knots on dummy horses
  • Evening Trail ride


Day 2:

  • Revisiting hitches and knots on live horses
  • Bits
  • Commonly used pack gear
  • Hobbles and bells
  • More practice time
  • Evening trai ride or visit to Hot Pools


Day 3: 

  • Basics of horse care
  • Basics of horse training; objectives, limits and expectations
  • Hoof care and backcountry horseshoeing
  • First aid for humans and horses
  • Revisiting hitches and knots
  • Challenging items to pack
  • Different types of ropes
  • Evening trail ride or visit to Hot Pools


Day 4:

  • Planning a horse trip
  • Hunting with horses
  • Basics of navigation and map reading
  • Where to go and where to plan your first trip
  • Setting up a horse camp
  • Afternoon trail ride with pack horses
  • Wrap up for 4-day participants
  • 6-day participants plan the upcoming 2-day trip with a handout of a simple map


Day 5 and 6:

  • 2-day pack trip in the area. 
  • Participants plan and prepare the trip, camp set up, wrangling and cooking.
  • All gear (except sleeping bags) and food for this trip is provided

 

Prices and what is included:

2-day clinic: $ 500/person

4-day clinic: $ 800/person

6-day clinic: $ 1000/person


Price includes:

  • Horse and equipment use
  • Camping on site with running water and washrooms
  • Trail and Packhorse guidebook and other handouts
  • Food for the overnight trip

    Location:  Luxor Corrals, Edgewater, BC