"THE MOUNTAIN CANARY COMPANY!"

"TIPS AND TRICKS FOR THE PACKER!"

Packing out Park Trail Crew 2005 from the Duckabush.

Tips and Tricks Index

• Easy Riding
  
• A Great Source of Packing Gear and Information
  
• Mottos and Taboos
  
• A Great Farrier Information Site
  
• The Easy Way To Deal With Bot Fly Eggs
  
• The Need For Fly Spray
  
• Fly Masks On The Trail
  
• Protect Their Nose
  
• Please Note
  

Easy Riding

In 2004 Ed went off of a mule and landed on a very sharp rock and the adventure was on.  Mule exclaimer, it was his fault not the mules.  When you mess up with a mule it’s always your fault. Following surgery and a long hospital stay his body changed (his behind inparticular) and his hard seat saddle was way beyond hard. 

We experimented with several saddles.  To make a long story short settledon a saddle made in Germany the Startrekk Saddle built by Deuber and Partner  www.startrekk.de  .  This saddle is sold in The U.S.A. by Abby Peterson at Saddling Solutions  www.saddlingsolutions.com  .  Note: demo saddles are available.   This is a saddle is as about as adjustable as a saddle can be.  It comes in several different styles  for many different disciplines  The pommel, barpads, stirrup positions and cantle  are all adjustable.  Basically itis a treeless or semi-treed saddle.  We have not been fans of any treeless saddle before but this one really preforms in the hardest kind of riding, aback country all day sit downs on steep ups and downs. 

Ed has got a lot of hard hours on it and as with any tool it is not with outits issues.  What is so  good is that all so far have been able to dealwith.  Because it hugs the back so tight, the area under the foam bar sappear holds the heat a bit more then  does a hard barred saddle.  At the end of a summer shed there is some roaning  under the saddle bars on Ms. Kitty.  This is no problem it will not be permanent.  We are working with Tom at Skito Pads and are  experimenting with one of his dryback pads.  By the looks of it has to be the coolest pad out there. Skito pads www.carouseltights.com  . 

If it looks like a canary, sings like a canary and is yellow it probably is a canary.  This saddle looks right and so far it has been.  It fits the critters well  and is easy on them in fact it has settled down some negative saddle temperament issues we did not know we had.  The great part is it's easy on us.  Those interested in a great ride check it out.    

 

A Great Source of Packing Gear and Information

We tend to make as much of our own packing gear and rigging as we can.  In many cases it has been cheaper and easier to purchase what we have needed.  The best source for top quality gear and our choice in pack saddles has been in Canada.  Trailhead Supplies has been handling quality gear for years.  The folks who own and run it are some of the finest kind around.  The Canadian dollar can fluctuate quite a bit so one may wish to watch wait and buy at time that can save you a lot of cash.  We have never had anything but top drawer service from them.  www.horsepacking.ca

Motto's and Tabbo's

Colleges, governments, military branches and even some companies have mission statement mottos and slogans.  An example of this is The U.S.Coast Guards motto is "Semper Paratus", "Always Ready" and their slogan is " you have to go out, but you do not have to comeback!"  Here at The Mountain Canary Company we are not long on Latin for a motto or organized enough for a slogan, but we are big on taboos. Most of us are familiar with historical taboos, such as you do not walk under a ladder or marry your sister.  All were founded in, at the time a solid reason and if one digs a bit you can find it.  Our home grown taboo isa gainst using the phrase "we ain't got far to go".  Every time we have applied it to a slipping pack or rigging problem as the solution we have paid the price.  Even if it is 100 yards to the end of that days trip it is better to stop, push that slippery pack back into place and tighten upthat lash rope, then to apply the quick fix "we ain't got far to go."

A Great Farrier Information Site

David Farmilo is a Australian Farrier with a ability to easily instruct and visit with folks on all hoof needs for your equine friends.  Sadly this is normally abnormal in the farrier trade.  David has developed tools and techniques to aid the horse owner in understanding how to balance, trim, and shoe their own animals.  Even if one never picks up a rasp or a shoeing hammer the information David offers incommon layman's language will aid any stock owner in understanding what is going on with your animals feet. I suggest you check out David’s site www.horsefarrier.com.au    He not only has of the 52 years on the job but he bringsthe apparent dark art of hoof care into a reasonable light.

The Easy Way To Deal With Bot Fly Eggs

The common method of dealing with Bot Fly eggs is to scarp them off of a horse or mule with a sharp knife or special comb.  Several years ago I was doing just that from my Cocoa molly mule, when she kicked at horse fly on her belly and I got my arm into thel ine of fire.  It cracked the bone a bit and I learned to adjust the focus of my glasses in a safer place.  My dad heard about my little adventureand called me with a old farm remedy for bot flies that works great.  Itr equires a bit of kerosene and a rag.  Slightly dampen the rag with kerosene and lightly swipe the eggs with this dampened rag.  A fresh bot Fly egg will be a soft yellow color once the kerosene touches the egg it willturn a dull orange or brown color.  This is now a dead egg that can ber emoved if desired or left to wear or fall off.  warning do not wet outthe hair or skin, kerosene can burn the animal if too much is used.

The Need For Fly Spray

We use fly spray during the biting nasty season to keep the horses or mules attention.  The use of fly spray as a repellent is a very important safety issue when you need to work closely in and around stock.  It is a standard practice for us when ever we must vet our critters or work on their feet.   Keep your farrier safe, spray and keep those biting nasty's away.

Fly Masks On The Trail

We put fly masks on all of our critters on the trail when we use them to pack or ride in the heavy fly season.  We realize that there can be some loss in vision as with one wearing sunglasses but the riskwe believe is out weighted but the safety from attention these nasty’s get when they are in their face.  Now they can better pay attention to their surroundings.  We also sew onto the fly masks fabric to make nose fly chasers that work great.

Protect Their Nose

Remember a halter, is a halter no matter what it is made of, it reacts in the same way to restrain the head of a horse or mule. You control the head you normally control the animal.  When ever a horse or mule is tied up there is always the danger that they be startled or panicked.  The normal response in such a situation is to pull back against the lead rope.  If the halter is not placed on the animals head in the proper location they can do serious damage to their nose.  The lower portion of the face and extending well above the nose is a cartledge material.  It is soft and very prone to breakage.  Always make sure what ever halter you use is positioned well above this location.

PLEASE NOTE:

We are not in the employ or under the influence of any manufacture of any goods or materials.  When we write about or suggest a product or service, we are offering information and experiences we have had with these products or providers.  We would expect and hope your experiences with them would be as positive as ours.  But who knows, anything can happen,thus the saying " different ships, different long splices".

We do not expect anyone to foolishly follow any instructions or any evolutions that we show or tell you about, just because we say so.  This is our way and our way only.  By following our ideas or instructions, you have accepted them as sound advice and thus accepted them as your own.

"We have had a kicking good time gathering this information for you!"