Once you've read a few Westerns or envisioned your family on a high peak, you may feel as eager as a horse in the starting gate.

Whoa, partner.

It's never too early to begin
familiarizing kids with horses.

Take A Test Ride

Before you commit to a week on the trail, take your family on a short, local horseback-riding trip with a pack animal. Big trips are like marriages-you need to court before getting hitched, no matter how fervent the passion. Plenty of parks and local stables offer introductory rides, day trips and lessons.

See how the kids react. It helps to warm young children up before the first encounter by using stuffed animals, toy figures and books about horses. While most kids are fascinated, a few will be terrified.

Just as you break in a pair of hiking boots, you need to work through any fears your child has, or, failing that, wait and see if time and maturity help.

Finding an Outfitter

Round up the family to define your goals.

Where do you want to go? How far and how rugged would you like the trip to be?

While horse-packing trips feel luxurious to anyone who's had to haul his own gear, they're hardly Club Med-style vacations. Be sure everyone in your party is a seasoned hiker and camper.

The needs and wants of each family vary immensely, so a lengthy discussion with any prospective outfitter is in order. However, you shouldn't be the only one asking questions. Outfitters will want a detailed description of your family's hiking, camping and, when applicable, riding background.

For more tips on how to find the right outfitter for your family, see Horse Trading, below.

"To some extent, the outfitter should be checking you out, too," Allen says. "For example, if you want to take your kids on a really advanced route over a Continental Divide-type path, that may be too strenuous a trip. You need to defer to the guide's judgment."

Since you'll be handing over the reins to your family's safety, make your search particularly thorough (see Shopping Around). You don't want to shell out a lot of money, only to have your child face an unhappy experience with a horse. With expert wranglers, you're less likely to encounter such problems.

"I think the standard of excellence is getting better all the time," Allen says, "if for no other reason than competition. There's more of an awareness of backcountry experiences these days, and everyone has to hustle pretty hard."

Horse Trading: Shopping Around Pack trips are a sizable investment, so it pays to scrutinize your options carefully. Here are a few tips to keep in mind: Recommendations from friends are a good place to start. Also scan ads in travel books and magazines, parenting magazines, and state tourist brochures. Another excellent source of recommendations are government agencies, including federal and state park services, game wardens, and state wildlife departments. They know firsthand who operates in their territory, and how they treat the big three: customers, stock and the environment. Once you have some names, be sure to call several companies, not just one. Even if companies are equally reputable, one may cater to families, go where you want to go, or simply have a more appealing attitude. Most important, find out whether trips are geared for families, and whether your family meets any age and skill requirements. Ask specific questions: what activities are planned; what sights will the kids enjoy; how frequently are breaks scheduled; what happens if a child lags; what are the ages of other participants. Ask for references and check them out. Try to get the name of a family who's been on a similar trip and whose children are close in age to your own. Another good way to check an outfitter's reputation is to ask about the company's"leave no-trace" policy. Guides who respect the wild are likely to respect their customers as well. Jim Allen, for instance, was an instructor for the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) for 11 years; his environmental practices are impeccable. Note how much time an outfitter spends with you before you send in a deposit. Talk to the person who will actually be leading the trip, since personality is so crucial. It's a good sign if someone takes time to talk with you and cares about your interests.

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