A phone call ahead of time to the local Ranger Station will help in selecting your route. Unconditioned stock can create undue stress and strain. Saddle and cinch sores, stone bruises, fatigue, and dehydration can easily spoil your trip. To avoid problems, condition your stock before heading out. Be sure also to plan on packing feed.
Early grazing can cause serious damage to meadow grasses.
As the summer progresses, and the ground is more firm, you can turn stock out for several hours each day. However, to avoid over grazing, pack in supplemental feed. By mid-September the nutritional value of meadow grasses is quite low. These feeds supply the necessary bulk and nutrients. Again, check with the Ranger Station beforehand for general grazing conditions.