Bat Masterson

I have been an outfitter for 35 years, Before that I packed horses/mules for my dad for 20 years. I also do frequent guest lecturing on packing for the USFS and some of the colleges in the pacific northwest. A pack saddle can be your worst nightmare if improperly rigged and your best friend if it is right. I use Decker saddles exclusively and make and sell 25-30 deckers a year. I have never been a fan of sawbucks but have on occassion used them. The sawbuck on the roan is rigged correctly. The other needs a quarter strap from the breast collar to the top of the rigging ring. I would also add and agree with some of the other posts use, top quality harness leather, not skirting or tooling. The harness leather will be serviceable for a much longer period of time without weekly oiling. Another suggestion I would offer is always use a half breed. Many of the other parts of packing are very individualized anfdwhen it comes to packing, use of sling ropes, manties vs. alforkus bags, use what you are the most comfortable with and what works for you. If you are packing for guests on outfitted trip the two things they always remember is the food and the wrecks, happy trails. Bat