full timing with horses

[robylinski]

Anyone have any experience full timing with horses?  Will be part to full-timing it soon, and think it may be better option to take my 2 horses and 2 dogs with rather than pay a caretaker several months at a time.  

 

[stude53]

No experience, but the idea hit me ... why not travel in a horse-drawn Vardo? There are lots of modern Vardo designs that are an easy build.<br><br>Bob

 

[robylinski]

Bob, Bob thanks for the reminder. I googled vardo and came upon the tiny house blog. I love it, especially for replacing the trailers on my acreage someday. Also reminded me of a horse drawn covered wagon that came through town a couple months ago. I remember thinking, "I could really do that!"

 

[Seraphim]

Carrying more fees, straw, grooming tools, and need room to exercise the horses when stopped. I'm just an amateur when it comes to horses, but it seems like an additional full time obligation.

 

[Mouldy]

My family and I have had horses and mules my whole life. Full-timing shouldn't be much harder than having other animals. If your in the front country, you have to pay for a corral (usually $10-15/head/night, check out horsemotel.com) If you want to save money and see ,IMO more exciting country, I would go to National Forest land and graze the horses. <br>If you have big bucks you can go with a horse trailer with living quarters. You could convert your own by getting a Stock Trailer rear (no stalls, just open) with a tack room in the front and gooseneck. A bed fits well in the gooseneck and plenty of room to put in things you need.<br>A vardo would be a good idea, but I'm guessing you'd need a add on a few feet to store the necessary tack and feed on top of whatever design you choose. Travel on roads might be a bit tricky in areas with any sort of population that aren't used to driving with folks that use similar carts such as the Amish. Another thing to look at would be a Conestoga wagon and redesigning it a bit to make it more suitable for full timing.

 

[peacetara]

There are people doing it. &nbsp;I can't seem to remember their names now, but hopefully someone else remembers? &nbsp;I remember 1 guy's blog he traveled with 3 horses, a wagon and a trailer. &nbsp;He just rode along the side of the road with the horses wherever he wanted to go. &nbsp;Last I heard he was coming down thru California, but I imagine he is done with California now. &nbsp;There is a woman traveling with a mule back east somewhere I think, and a guy with a mule up in Canada. &nbsp;I'm sure there are more, but these are the ones I know of. (none of these people used vehicles, they were all horse/mule drawn wagons, or no wagon at all)<br><br>Wish you success!!<br><br>With Love,<br>Tara