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Letter Re: Stocking up on Horse Tack
Jim,
If there were an EMP event, what would be the primary mode of transportation:
shank's mare; the bicycle; horses? Likely all three would rate pretty
high on the list of most likely. Accordingly, are most prepared? I
would anticipate most have the necessary footwear. A bicycle would
be viable for personal and logistics transport...if one has an appropriate
unit and the maintenance supplies...in fact, this would be a practical
way to move young children from one location to another as they already
have their bikes.
But what about the eventual and likely need for horse transportation?
While it may be and is very impracticable for urbanites to keep horses
for post-EMP days, it is very practical for urbanites (and others)
to keep and maintain a complete component of necessary equestrian tack:
a saddle that fits; quality bridle and reins; halters; saddle blankets;
feed sacks; leads; gun scabbards; saddlebags; etc. See, being lucky
enough to 'acquire' a horse would be quite possible; however, 'acquiring'
the tack/gear to outfit a mount is another story altogether. Better
prepared than wondering one day why you weren't. Anyway, just a notion.
Keep up the great work from your undisclosed venue. - Matt, Somewhere
South of Kentucky & North of Alabama
JWR Replies: You are right that horses will be
very important, post-Crunch. So buying horse tack is a great idea,
Matt! You can also consider those
purchases part of your "just
in case"
Peak
Oil
insurance
and just one more "tangible" investment. Just be sure to
keep that leather
well
oiled, inspected often, and away from moisture and vermin. (Mice
and rats do love to chew, and chew, and chew.) OBTW, one alternative
is
purchasing
the biothane
nylon tack that
is
now
favored
by
some "endurance"
riders. Regardless of what tack you select, think ahead in terms
of
maintaining your tack. Buy extra hardware, rolls of different
widths of nylon webbing (in olive green and brown, of course) sheet
leather, leather working
tools, a sewing awl, spools of heavy nylon thread, Barge Cement,
Shoo Goo, et cetera. Those are all available
from
Tandy Leather
Company. I have found that slightly used tools can often be found
at garage sales, flea markets, and via eBay,
from people that flirted with the hobby,
but
gave it up when they discovered that it was too much like work.
BTW, those tools and supplies could form the basis for a second "post-Crunch"
source
of
income
or barter.
Also BTW, I predict
that post-TEOTWAWKI there
will suddenly be lots people that want to carry handguns daily, but
that will be short on holsters. (Just ask
the average American gun collector if he has a practical holster
for each of
his handguns.)
