Imagine waking up in a peaceful, remote meadow near a lake with your horse nearby, then hiking or riding out from there, or reading at camp, fishing, or swimming during the day. This is horse and mule packing.
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Getting the 4-H Horse and Mule Packing Project Launched
Jennifer Best started and leads the SLO County 4-H Horse and Mule Packing Project. This is its inaugural year. The interest has kicked off with enthusiasm and support. Jennifer writes: “Beyond my profession as a journalist, my work and volunteer experience has included coaching and teaching swimming, leading various 4-H projects, substituting in schools, plus volunteering on trails and in community organizations. Each has its own level of teamsmanship, but this horse packing project has been BEYOND!
When the project outgrew the parking situation at my property, neighbors and friend Jane & Mike Wilson stepped up and allowed us to use their place. As news of this project got out, I discovered packers in my midst, people who wanted to lend a hand. My co-leaders and I welcomed them to act as guest speakers and presenters at our meetings where they’ve taken charge of the day’s lesson. Packers from around the state have reached out to make sure we have access to Mule Days, to help facilitate longer packs in future, and to offer insight and information.”
The Experience Behind the Vision for the 4-H Horse and Mule Packing Project
Jennifer grew up camping, hiking and backpacking with her Eagle Scout dad and began horse packing as an adult. She describes her efforts in getting the Horse and Mule Packing Project started, “Finding other people with the interest in packing was no problem, but finding other people with the animals, gear and skills has been a real challenge. There are very few opportunities for our generation or the next to learn them. It came to me that I’d been a 4-H leader for years (sewing, photography, fiber arts, Dutch oven, and co-leader of horse) but I’d never thought of packing as a 4-H potential.
Did you know 4-H offers any project youth are interested in that an adult volunteer will lead? They’ve even offered robotics and rocketry! So, I approached SLO County 4-H Horse Resource Leader Michelle Mitchell to see if 4-H would be interested in a packing project. She was not only onboard, but volunteered as one of my co-leaders! (Pozo 4-H Community Club Leader Carrie Pulse is my other co-leader.) We have since had quite an outpouring of support from the packing community, including the Cal Poly Packing Team which led two of our meetings and hosted our 4-H project kids at their March mock competition at Cal Poly. That event included a morning clinic, then friendly competition between Modesto, Reedley, Fresno State and Cal Poly.
Training the Participants, the Horses and Mules
Since this is the first year of the program, Jennifer and other leaders are building the SLO County 4-H Horse and Mule Packing program to meet the specific needs of the participating individuals. “We had 11 kids attend the first horseless meeting where we covered what would be required,” states Jennifer. “4-H regulations permit youth 9-17 to take part in the program. The project requires youth to have their own riding animal (horse, pony, donkey, mule – any equid they already are proficient at riding). Having a second animal to serve as their packing animal is a bonus, but not required this year as I have the two mules to share with them and it’s about learning the ponying and packing skills.”
What Horses and Mules do the Participants Use?
The youth are all riding their own pack horses, which range from competition-quality horses to old horses that are great kid-minders. Most are Quarter Horses or QH variations. Jennifer describes her own horses and mules, “I ride my 24-year-old AQHA mare (it’s time to start looking for her replacement, but I haven’t had the heart to take any time away from ol’ Maddie) with two mules in tow: Rosie is a traditional, mid-size red mule; Turbo is a little, nearly-black mule that’s about the size of a small Welsh pony. Turbo’s been my energetic mule of choice on my single-mule packs since he’s younger, smaller and I don’t carry much gear, but Rosie has trail, clinic and show experience and is really quiet.”
Getting the Horse and Mule Packing Experience Underway
Getting the kids started with hands-on learning has ignited their interest. “We started with simple arena work to see where the project members were in their animal handling, then we hit the trail to start practicing trail riding etiquette and skills,” explains Jennifer.
Tapping into the experience of other packers has expanded the learning. For example, Jennifer describes working with Cal Poly students. “With Cal Poly Packing Project member leadership, our project members learned how to saddle their pack animal, load boxes/bags/panniers, drape the mantel, and tie the loads with box hitches and diamond hitches. With guest packers additionally attending meetings to lend a hand, we’ve also worked on ponying skills, provided round-pen training to help lead horses learn how to accept a rope under their tail (a given at some point when ponying), and worked on stringing mules.”
The participants are preparing to go on their first camp, but there are still things to experience before that first trip. “Before we head out to our first camp, we’ll also talk about trail communication, human and animal first aid, animal care on the trail and at camp. The project members will learn how to put up all sorts of tents in advance to prepare them for any gear setup. At camp additional life skills will be practiced including fishing, Dutch oven cooking and related knife and fire safety,” explains Best.
First Horse and Mule Packing Trip is This Summer
The kids are excited about their first packing trip coming up. Jennifer lays out the parameters, “The packing trip we’ll take as our culminating event in June is only open to project members who have actively participated in meetings where we’ve built the skills noted above and then some. Riders must be able to handle their own horse at minimum, and more advanced riders will be ponying in either their own pack animal or one of my mules.”
Other Horse and Mule Packing Activities Build Skills
Oppenheimer Family Equine Center, Cal Poly SLO.
In addition to the pack-in campout in June, project members have already been invited to other events which have fostered readiness in these 4-H kids. Jennifer explains the different outings, “Because of a great partnership with Cal Poly Packing Team members, our youth were invited to and participated in the February 2025 Driving Clinic held on campus, and the Packing Clinic and Mock Competition held there in March.
In April, the 4-H members volunteered, and some youth riders rode in the Back in the Saddle all-breed, all-skill, all-age horseshow. This horse show operates as a benefit for all 4-H horse projects throughout SLO County. In May, our members will travel to Bishop to participate in Mule Days. And, finally, in June we’ll have our first-ever SLO County 4-H Horse and Mule Packing Project backcountry pack-in camp trip. In future years as youth gain skills and if the support for transporting youth and stock permits, I’d like to expand into longer packs through connections I have in the Sierra Nevada.”
Packing for a Horse and Mule Packing Trip
What does one pack when you only have bags on the back of mules for storage? Jennifer describes what she typically packs for a trip: “I’m an ultra-lightweight packer where gear is concerned, so I take minimal supplies.
Horse Feed and Gear
There’s no skimping on equid gear, so there’s a high-line (the single most bulky item in the whole setup), tree-saver straps, fly spray, small salt lick and granulated feed at minimum.
Human Supplies
For human supplies, the minimum is: clean socks and unders, toothbrush, toothpaste, sunscreen, bug repellent, clean shirts for alternating days, one or two extra pair of pants depending on length of stay, a pair of shorts if weather is going to demand it, hat with visor, coat, knit hat for cold nights.
Camp Gear
Camp gear includes: a tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, lantern/flashlight/headlamp, water filter (I use the LifeStraw bottle with integrated water filter), fire starter (matches & lighter), Snowpeak Gigapower (ultralight camp stove), fuel canister(s), one pot with lid, spoon, fork, knife, small tarp and lots of parachute cord, and a tiny foldable camp chair. The lightest approach to food is the freeze-dried product widely available, but mules provide us the ability to take fresh foods and cold beverages, even a Dutch oven and related supplies and groceries.
Comfort Items
“Of course, campers need to adjust their lists to accommodate for their rides, final destinations and personal comfort,” Jennifer continues. “We’re training up the next generation in the same manner, though they’re of course welcome to expand their comfort items just as adults do – with their own pack animals. However, on this first campout, we won’t have enough animals for youth to bring comfort items like pillows, so we’ll teach them to make-do with folded-coat pillows and use campground amenities we wouldn’t have in rough country.”
Where Can One Go Horse and Mule Packing?
Jennifer is an experienced camper throughout the United States. She and her children have camped in most states as well as extensively throughout the West Coast, Nevada and Utah. For horse packing, she’s stuck with her home state: California. “Though I was raised on Central Coast beaches and the coast offers beautiful areas for riding and camping, especially in our 2 million-acre Los Padres National Forest, poison oak is an issue for my family, so we head east into the Sierra Nevada. You can’t go wrong there. Read maps, grab your wilderness permit, and hit the trailhead.”
How long has Jennifer packed out for? “So far, my longest pack has been five days, but I’d like to extend that. Family and work schedules have driven me back to the coast. Or I’ve doubled back for back-to-back rides and packs to meet up with friends. One season, I was able to pack in for three days of trail work, pack out to move to a personal pack for five days, then move to another trailhead to join another pack trail work trip. Now THAT was a fun run!”
SLO County 4-H Horse and Mule Packing Experience
Youth packers have learned to better handle their riding animals in a crowd, how to pony another animal, and how to pack gear for a trip. While camping, they’ll get to learn how to or practice their Dutch oven skills as we cook for each other. “We’ll fish, hike, read, cook s’mores, enjoy each other’s company,” says Jennifer. Sounds like a wonderful time of making memories these 4-H kids will treasure for a lifetime.
Get Involved with the SLO County 4-H Horse and Mule Packing Project
Jennifer Best extends an invitation to help this wonderful project grow and expand.
“We could use packing gear (pack saddles, panniers, mantes, lash ropes, long lead lines) if anyone has them languishing in the ol’ tack room/barn and ready to donate. Contact me to make arrangements for pickup.”
Cash and check donations are also welcome to cover camp reservation fees, Mule Days entry and camping fees, and camp groceries. Heck, maybe even fuel to help us get to and from Mule Days and the trailheads. Check donations for SLO County 4-H YDP should be indentified with “HORSE PACKING PROJECT” in the memo line. (That’s essential, or it will simply go to 4-H generally.). Checks can be mailed to SLO County 4-H Program, 2156 Sierra Way Suite C, San Luis Obispo CA 93401. Jennifer Best can be contacted via e-mail: at JenPete@aol.com.
“I started the first-ever SLO County 4-H Horse & Mule Project as its leader, but have found it to be the most collaborative project I’ve ever taken part in over half a century on this planet. I’d like it to continue for years to come, something that absolutely can happen if the community continues to step up like it has this year!”
Photo Credit: Jennifer Best
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