Kristy Titus
Learn the fundamentals of packing with horses and mules, blending traditional methods with practical, real-world experience. You’ll learn essential gear, basic packing systems, weight considerations, and how to prioritize the health and wellbeing of your stock so you can pack safely, efficiently, and responsibly in the backcountry.
About Kristy Titus
Kristy Titus is a hunter, backcountry horsewoman, and outdoor educator best known as the host of Pursue the Wild. With years of experience packing and traveling through remote country with horses and mules, she is passionate about sharing practical backcountry skills, responsible stockmanship, and a deep respect for wildlife and wild places.
Kristy Titus
Riding and Packing in the Backcountry
Learn the essentials of packing with horses and mules through a blend of traditional knowledge and hands-on experience. This course covers key gear, packing systems, load balance, and responsible stock care to help you travel safely, efficiently, and confidently in the backcountry.
8 Chapters
Lesson Length:
03:32
Teaches the essential skills, gear, and animal-care principles needed to safely and efficiently pack with horses and mules in the backcountry.
Lesson Length:
13:51
Kristy walks through the full process she uses to evaluate a quality mule, explaining what she looks for and how thoroughly she vets each animal.
Lesson Length:
05:33
In this chapter, Kristy tackles the important topic of weight limits, animal conditioning, and what it truly meant to be a responsible packer. Whether you’re brand new or brushing up on the basics, this chapter sets you up for success.
Lesson Length:
12:06
In this chapter, we explore the two most common pack saddles – the sawbuck and the decker. We also hear from professional packer and saddle maker, Jeff Pace, who shares his hands-on expertise to help you better understand which saddle might be right for you.
Lesson Length:
08:04
In this chapter, Kristy dives into panniers, exploring the history and key differences between soft-sided and hard-sided options. She covers the pros and cons of each style and touches on proper weight distribution and the role of the manty in protecting your load on the trail.
Lesson Length:
03:21
This chapter covers the foundation of livestock packing and the world of hitches – what they are, where they come from, and why choosing the right one matters.
Lesson Length:
13:56
Kristy covers the traditional art of building a manty load. She explores the history and roots of the manty, then breaks it down step by step so you can learn to wrap, secure, and balance a load with confidence.
Lesson Length:
21:13
Explore the history of the box hitch and why it is a go-to option across a wide range of packing scenarios. From there, Kristy walks through the hitch step by step.