Wilderness Outfitting and Packing Course

Learn the Art of Packing Horses and Mules!

Offered to the public and students packer
PTRM 395, 1 credit, Spring 2013

Instructor: Smoke Elser, Wilderness Consulting

This complete course offers hands-on instruction working with packing equipment, horses, and mules. Classes are limited to 12 students per session allowing the instructor to work closely with each student. No prior experience is necessary and credit is available through Continuing Education at the University of Montana.

Course topics include general horse handling, packing, and minimum impact horse use and camping techniques. Students receive an introduction to safe handling of horses and mules, main injury points, riding equipment, picketing, hobbling, emergency shoeing, and basic backcountry horse care. The course also teaches packing, cargoing, loading and more. For a full syllabus, click here.

The 8 week course begins the week of January 28, 2013 and ends the second week of March. Class meets once a week for 3 hours at Smoke Elser's barn in the Rattlesnake.

The choice of class times are: Sundays 2-5 pm, Mondays 7-10 pm, Tuesdays 7-10 pm, or Thursdays 7-10 pm.

Course fee: $185, plus $135 continuing education tuition fee if taken for UM credit. Credit registration is NOT accomplished via Cyberbear. To enroll for credit, complete a Credit Registration Form and pay the $135 credit recording fee at the first class meeting.

To register for the course or for more information contact Smoke at 549-2820 or telser2820@aol.com.