Take animals with you on a Bug Out?

[hunter63]

Reading the thread on the horse trailer as a B.O. trailer, kind of makes me wonder how many people would take their animals with them.

As I am not a horse person, more of a dog person, there would be no question whether or not on taking the dogs, but I have to beleave that taking horses would be a major inconvenience?

I realize that they would be good transportation, but is the trouble worth it.
So what do y'all think?

[zbery1]

I have had both horses and mules, horses in my experience require more care and are more trouble as far as diet. A mule would be my choice as far as an animal to bug out with because they are easier to care for and have less problems. Either way it would mean hauling along grain for them. And when it runs out it would be hard to keep them in working condition. But until then they would be very useful for carrying supplies or moving more quickly if you are traveling light. I think if you were familiar with them and accustom to caring for them they would be a plus and you could always eat them if you had to. I never learned to shoe a horse or mule so once they threw a shoe I would be at a loss as to what to do.
A nanny goat might be a good traveling companion...it could carry a small load, survive on most any type of food and give you milk for your coffee.
I wouldn't go anywhere without my dog, for me that's a no brainer. She is my constant companion.

[hunter63]

I hear you on the dogs, we kinda think of them as "fur kids"
I didn't want to bring up the eating them part as I know a lot of people think of them as fur kids also.
But a mountain-man would never name anything he may have to eat some day.

Watched the Survivorman episode where he was traveling with horses in the western mountains, and even he said it was a lot of work, of course he did say he had no experience with them.

[randallhilton]

I hear you on the dogs, we kinda think of them as "fur kids"
I didn't want to bring up the eating them part as I know a lot of people think of them as fur kids also.
But a mountain-man would never name anything he may have to eat some day.

As I understand it, mountain men would "marry" a squaw and then, if the winter didn't yield enough grub for two, well. . . maybe she never had a name anyway.

Dogs could be useful intruder alarms but if they can't forage then it could become a problem. If needed, I would drop the name of our dog to Cal.

I can see horses and mules, perhaps even bovines, being multipurpose as burden hauling protein resources but also keep in mind that back in the day, farmers were only too glad to get tractors.

[ldsparamedic]

Hunter 63. That was my post. You bring up a good point. Our reasoning for bringing the horses is if and when we ran out of fuel, we wouldn't be on foot. We can travel farther on the horses, plus use one as a pack animal. All 3 of our horses are BLM adopted Mustangs, which came out of northern Nevada. They are used to living in the mountains and off natural food sources. Try taking a papered horse of anyone's choice (quarter etc) which has been fed all its life on a farm, out in the wilds and see if it can survive, let alone thrive. Horses are good for security as well since they usually see somone or thing about long before humans do. Our next horse project is to teach the horses to pull a load and be tethered as a team. Ultimately, if we are starving, we could eat one. Although we'd get more iron in our diet eating the truck:)
Here is some food for thought about the dog. We have a Border Collie. She is great for letting us know when someone is around, she pees when you say boo. I feel she could potentially become a liability as she cannot defend herself if attacked, let alone protect my wife and son. We are looking at getting another White German Shepherd to be a companion for her and the family.

[hunter63]

I was just curious to what y'all thought.
And at least you are giving it some though ahead of time.

I know several horse people, and they would find a way to bring them along if possible.
But I sure the also are reasonable about their expectations as well.

[ArmySGT.]

I was just curious to what y'all thought.
And at least you are giving it some though ahead of time.

I know several horse people, and they would find a way to bring them along if possible.
But I sure the also are reasonable about their expectations as well.

Hay burners, not if there was a more reliable form of transportation available. I could feed a diesel tractor on less grain than thorough breds.

[ldsparamedic]

Hay burners, not if there was a more reliable form of transportation available. I could feed a diesel tractor on less grain than thorough breds.

I couldn't agree with you more. That is why we love our Mustangs. Yes we feed them hay at home, but when we take them out camping they eat whatever is growing and are none less for the wear. Our older gelding is very fond of mesquite flowers and green bean pods. He'll eat them before his hay. A "refined" horse would not survive in bug out situations. Yes you could feed the diesel tractor on less, but it might not get you where you needed to go as far as a slope is concerned and horses are quieter. If you are bugging out, you might need some stealth to not let others know where they can steal from.

[bookwormom]

it depends on the situation. How bad is it, do you think it will improve in a short time or is it going to get worse. no way would I just turn my dogs loose to fend for themselves. they would not leave me anyway,. but they depend on me for food. What when I can not feed them? I don't have a horse, but the pioneers managed to get across the country with horses, mules and oxen on non existent roads. I think I would take my goats and cow along if I had to leave on foot. they stay with me and they eat scrub and brush and I can milk them. It all depends on the SHTF scenario. are you thinking natural catastrophie, or civil war or what.

[Michael32170]

Can you feed and water them, any time of the year? Can they find their own food?

[bookwormom]

goats will do pretty well. except for deep winter they will find browse, and even in winter ours eat saw briar, cedar and honey suckle. they also eat pine. out in the country you find creeks and ponds and if it rains puddles.

[Justacowboy]

A "refined" horse would not survive in bug out situations.

I beg to differ..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v416/Cowboyvon/DSC_0094.jpg

He's pretty refined but he can eat grass and mesquite beans as good as any... so could this one

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v416/Cowboyvon/TesterinCanyon.jpg

And this one..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v416/Cowboyvon/Picture076.jpg

And they can pack out and carry stuff for you..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v416/Cowboyvon/Onhorse.jpg

And I'll take my dogs with me if I have to bug out they hunt and can help.. but for the most part I've already bugged out..

[zbery1]

I bet you can even shoe her should she throw a shoe. If you know what you're doing it would be a good way to go! congrats on already having "bugged out" it looks like a good life.

[Michael32170]

There are wild Mustangs in this country. Where do they thrive?

[ldsparamedic]

Justacowboy. I didn't mean to get your dander up, your horses are obviously conditioned to living that life. I was referring to folks who's horses have eaten grain, hay and planted pasture their entire lives. As a horseman you know the hazard of a radical and abrupt diet change in a horse. Not to change he subject but is that a cougar in that last photo? Nice looking kitty.

Michael32170, wild mustangs thrive in the west. They range from the southwest deserts, we have a herds of wild horses and wild burros here in Yuma County, all the way to, and probably into Canada. They eat pretty much anything edible which grows on the range.

[Justacowboy]

Thats alright just thought I would jump in and stick up for the registered horses:yes4:

Yeah thats a lion I caught a few years ago out in the desert.. If she would of treed she would still be out there roaming around but she decided to try the dogs on and that didn't work out too well..

I've got a place now way up in the mountains where I spend most of my time. I'm 8 miles off the highway and away from electricity and its some of the roughest country around so I bought me a pair of mules.. and let me tell you they are great.. they don't eat as much as a horse, they get around in the rocks better.. I kinda like them..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v416/Cowboyvon/Picture2009Hillsboro006.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v416/Cowboyvon/Picture2009Hillsboro014.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v416/Cowboyvon/Picture2009Hillsboro011.jpg

[ldsparamedic]

Justacowboy, nice place you've got. Which state are you in? It looks a little AZ or sNMish. The ancient guy we board our horses with is fond of mules also. He has about 2 dozen of them and states he will never ride a horse again. He rides, packs and shoots off them.

[Sevengin]

JustaCowboy, love your place. I would absolutely love to have a place like that.