Southern Az Pack School

Monday October 11th through Thursday October 14th

Our pack school course is informative and covers all the basic information and skills to learn how to use pack horses.

This is a 4-day hands-on course that runs from. Monday and Tuesday instruction will be in Sonoita, Arizona, 45 minutes south of Tucson at a cool elevation of 5,000 ft. The overnight pack trip on Wednesday will be in Huachuca Mountains, Miller Peak Wilderness and other portions of the Coronado National Forest.

The course includes:

  • Instruction Materials
  • Quality riding horses
  • Experienced pack horses
  • All necessary pack equipment
  • Lunch each day
  • Overnight Pack Trip with meals and camping gear

The price is $895 per person. Advance reservations are required.

The course is limited to 6 people. Maximum weight limit is 200 lbs and BMI not to exceed 29.

Lodging is available in Sonoita for Monday and Tuesday at additional cost.

Your instructors will be Ron Izzo and Mark Drumheller of Arizona Horseback Experience.

Ron has over 27 years of commercial horse packing experience and has developed a number of special techniques to make for safe and enjoyable trips in the more remote regions of Arizona. He has had successfull comercial horse operations in Canyon De Chelly, Tucson and Sonoita and has been featured in various publications including, Western Horseman, Sunset Magazine, and Alaska Airlines. You will also find an interesting story about him in the book "Arizona" by Fred Hirschmann.

Mark has cowboyed in the Pacific Northwest for a number of years and is a skilled horse trainer. You'll find both Ron and Mark always willing to share their knowledge and skills with you. And by the way, expect to have a lot of fun with these guys!

Lesson Plan:

  • Overview
    • Why pack
    • What to expect
    • What we will accomplish
  • Pack horse
    • Selecting a pack horse
      • Conformation
      • Size
      • Temperament
      • Leading
      • Pecking order
    • Training a pack horse
      • Leading
      • Hooking Together
      • Picket Line
      • Mantee (cover tarp)
      • Britching
      • Panniers
      • Noise
      • Lash Rope
      • Picket Line
      • Free Work
    • Saddles
      • Decker
      • Sawbuck
      • Buying pack equipment
      • Care and Maintenance
      • Customizing
    • Pads
      • Special Pack Pads
      • Standard Saddle Pad
    • Panniers
    • Lash Rope
    • Mantee
    • Halter and Leadrope
  • Hitches
    • Box Hitch
    • Diamond Hitch
    • Double Diamon
    • Barrel
  • Packing the Horse
    • Weight
    • What to bring
    • How to pack Pannier
    • Top Pack
    • Mantee
    • Selecting the Right Hitch
    • One man or two
    • Other
  • Where are you going
    • Terrain
    • Will your horse fit
  • Horse Care
    • On the trail
    • What to eat
      • Hay
      • Pellets
      • Grazing
      • Hobbles
    • Water
    • Picket Line

1-520-455-5696
ride@horsebackexperience.com

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