Annual Horse & Mule Packing Class
September 21-25, 2023
9 am - 4 pm
HBK Ranch
14655 Hamel Road
Frenchtown, MT 59834
Have you ever wanted to learn the art of packing all of your gear onto your horses and hitting the trail for parts unknown? You will learn everything you need to know to safely pack up and head to the back country with your horses or mules.
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All stock and equipment is provided.
There are no age or gender restrictions on the class. This is a great class for parents and kids or couples to take together! This class is full of interesting and entertaining information, for everyone. Prior experience with stock is not necessary.
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Course Details:
We have restructured the course schedule compared to previous years.
This year the course will take place over five consecutive days, with a 30-minute lunch break. You will receive 35 hours of instruction as compared to the 24 hours of instruction with our previous schedule.
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Course content on Monday will be largely review and practice of what we have learned over the first four days of the course. If your schedule cannot accommodate the fifth day you will still gain all of the knowledge and skills.
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Lodging and meals are not provided however we do offer dry camping at the ranch and are happy to recommend lodging nearby and restaurant options. The ranch is within 15 minutes of many nice hotels and campgrounds along with restaurants and fast food options.
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Registration:
Individual course registration is $500, pair registrations are $450 each.
We accept all major credit cards, Paypal, Venmo, Cash or Check.
For individual registration $250 is due to reserve your registration, $250 is due at the time of the class.
For pair registrations $450 is due to reserve your registration, $450 is due at the time of the class.
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Class spaces are limited to twelve students to ensure each student receives the appropriate amount of instruction. Please be sure to reserve your space if you would like to join the class.
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Due to the limited number of spaces we will not be able to refund cancellations made less than two weeks before the beginning of class.
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About the Instructor
After moving to Montana in 2001, Jordan Knudsen rapidly grew a passion for horses, mules and back country travel. After a few years of experience in self-taught techniques, he completed Smoke Elser's packing course in 2004.
From 2004 to present Jordan has spent falls as a Licensed Backcountry Hunting Guide, contract packed through the summer season and enjoyed as much personal and family time in the mountains as time allowed.
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In 2014 Jordan began instructing alongside Smoke. For the next eight years he taught with Smoke in the classroom, the field and other public demonstrations. In 2021 Jordan offered the class on his own for the first time and since then has instructed numerous classes, including for University of Montana Western.
Jordan and his wife Amanda own and operate a cattle ranch, Heart Bar K Ranch, in Frenchtown Montana, selling Montana beef and pork They spend as much time as possible in the mountains with their four children, pictured below on their first trip into the Bob Marshall in 2021, and subsequent trips each year since.
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