A Trail to Empowerment – Horseback Guide School Training
When I arrived at the Guide School, I expected to learn about horses and wilderness skills. I didn’t realize how much it would change me as a person. The experience turned out to be a journey of personal growth and within a short time we learned important skills and got to apply them hands-on in the backcountry.
Horsemanship Skills
We learned everything about working with horses – from saddling and shoeing to packing. Shoeing a horse for the first time was challenging and taught me to be patient and pay attention to small details. Packing for backcountry trips was more complex than I expected. We had to balance loads carefully and think ahead about what we might need on long journeys. Learning how to secure the pack loads on the horse was another important lesson so that we would not loose our gear along the way.
Self-Sufficiency Skills in the Wilderness
Learning about survival and wilderness skills was a real eye-opener. We learned how to start fires, harvest from nature by digging wild potatoes and drinking pine needle tea. We also learned how to find our way using landmarks and how to read the lay of the land. It made me realize how much I could do with just a few basic skills and minimal equipment.
Becoming a Steward of the Land
I didn’t expect to become so interested in conservation. We learned about grazing horses responsibly in the backcountry and took part in conservation projects. We collected Grizzly Bear hair for DNA analysis and documented wildlife and its tracks for data collection. Learning to track animals and observe their behavior helped me feel more connected to the wilderness and I was appreciative to learn about ways on how I could give back to it.
Connecting with Nature
One of the most memorable experiences was learning to truly connect with nature. Drinking water straight from a mountain creek felt like a big step – it showed me I could trust nature in a way I hadn’t before. I started to feel like I belonged in the wilderness, not just as a visitor. Also the places that we rode with the horses where just breath-taking and my appreciation for the horses just grew immensely.
New Awareness Skills
Throughout the program, we were taught to always be aware of our surroundings. Especially since we were navigating though bear country, we needed to be aware of tracks and our horses reactions as they knew about a bear before did. This heightened awareness not only kept us safe in the wilderness, it also made me more observant in everyday life too.
Empowered for Life
By the end of the Guide School, I realized I had gained much more than just horse skills. I left feeling truly empowered. I learned that I don’t need much to be self-sufficient – just what I can pack on my horse, and nature provides the rest. This realization has been freeing, giving me a sense of independence I didn’t have before. More importantly, I’ve discovered inner strength and confidence that helps me in all aspects of life. With my new skills and confidence, I’m excited to plan more adventures in remote areas with my horse.
– Kayleigh O.
