BigGameHoundsmen.com

I know there was a thread about custom saddles for hunting, but could you guys post some pics of your horses/mules fully rigged out the way you normally do for a hunt? I'm curious as to what kind of tack everyone uses overall in different parts of the country.

Interesting question hoping to see some good pictures.Im not a horsemen but its something Im very interested in !

This is what i ride. Colorado sadderly Cody mountain mule Saddle. Tuff Enuff Breechn neoprene lined, Hackmores with gag bits(mules need good brakes LOL), beat up saddlebags, overshoe stirrups and a slicker.

I dont use breast collars on most of my mules, but i do have one mule that i have to use one

nice lookin rig Big Mike thanks for posting

hey Big Mike. where did you get the neoprene lined britchin from...ive looked all over for some i liked

Got it from a website tuffenuff.org Not sure if you can buy the neoprene rear strap separate or have to buy the whole britchn.

Thanks mike..I looked at there website...there backlogged 6 weeks...so they probly are a quality piece of equipment, everybody must want one

That looks awesome Mike. Ever since reading the Lee Brothers books as a boy I dreamt of doing stuff like this. Last year was my first experience with hounds and horses on a leopard hunt with two guys from Texas. The ranchers horses were used for stock collecting and hunting other game and the hounds and horses were just fine together , no drawbacks right from the outset.

The leopard bayed up eventually in thick thorn cover and charged the horses and actually went right underneath one of the mounts. No rearing and no one thrown out of the saddles. Shots were fired from the backs of the horses , which was just natural refelex under the circumstances. The client had time to dismount and actually shot his leopard running away from him. Very dramatic , but really a hunt to remember.
Hope we get our plan worked out here as I want to offer this type of hunt here in the Eastern Cape for caracal and jackal.

Nice picture.Thanks - Roy.

Here's a few pics of my rig I took yesterday Larry. I was riding my buddies mule as kind of a test run, first time we had him in the woods and he did awesome.

I like a confortable, solid good fitting saddle and for me, in the woods a sturdy britchin and breast collar are key.

My saddle bags are as heavy duty as you can get. A good friend and fellow houndsman makes them and they have no sewing in them at all. Every pair of good bags we've had go bad it seems the stitcing rotted out. So, they are 100% buckstitched with leather (which could be redone if ever needed) and riveted with heavy duty copper rivets. I belive these bags are lifetime saddle bags. They are also made of the heaviest leather so they won't snag and tear or rip, even with age on them.

I also like to keep a Filson tin cloth coat on the back of my saddle most of the year. Waterproof, confortable and again, a lifetime product.

As for inside the bags, for me it's TP, Mt. Dew, Snickers bars, granola bars, a can of chili, tracking/shock collar equip and anything else needed

Going to have the same friend make a custom set of horn bags that hold a tracking receiver and shock transmitter on one side and a pouch for misc items needed on the other.

Thats a nice mule but thats a really coon cabin and camp u have set up there!

Devin, is that the Molly you got from Deon Evans? Nice mule...

Thanks guys she is just a 4 year old but a pretty good mule. Brady, she is the one I got from Deon.

Nice looking mules there Machias.