HBK Mountain Horses

02/18/2026

02/18/2026

🎒 Master the Art of Packing Your Horse or Mule! 🐴
Want to confidently load your gear and hit the trail into parts unknown? Join us at HBK Ranch’s 5-Day Packing Class in beautiful Frenchtown, MT this spring!
📅 April 30 – May 4, 2026
📍 HBK Ranch — 14655 Hamel Road, Frenchtown, MT
💡 35 hours of hands-on instruction with all stock & equipment provided.
Whether you’re a beginner, packing enthusiast, or seasoned outdoor adventurer, you’ll learn the skills that make packing safe and fun:
✅ Tie essential backcountry knots
✅ Horse & mule anatomy, care, and safety
✅ Decker vs Sawbuck pack saddles + rigging
✅ Panniers, manty box & duffel loading
✅ Basket, Diamond, Barrel, Crow’s Foot & Christenson hitches
✅ Rope braiding
✅ How to pack antlers
✅ Saddle fitting help (bring your own or learn on ours!)
✅ Riding saddle demos & gear reviews ✨
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Open to all ages & genders — perfect for families, couples, or individuals!
📦 Registration:
💲 $500 if paid in full now or $530 split payments
💲 $400 discounted rate for previous students
📩 All major payment methods accepted (CC, PayPal, Venmo, Cash, Check)
🌄 Plus:
✨ On-site dry camping available
✨ Discounted Decker pack saddles available during class
✨ Small class size — only 12 students — for personalized instruction
👉 Reserve your spot today!
Don’t miss your chance to gain confidence, skills, and access to the backcountry like never before.
https://www.hbkhorses.com/packing-class/packing-class

02/14/2026

Words can’t begin to describe how blessed we are. Happy horses enjoying a Montana sunrise

02/05/2026

Young Pat is coming right along. Pat, short for Patriot, was born on July 4th and is going to be 3 this year. He is such a handsome, sweet stud c**t. Our oldest daughter has made it her mission to help him become a fine, contributing member of society. This is after only a couple of weeks of working on putting a halter on and leading. Pat is sure to be a very valued member of our pack string soon! This week she added a very important part of training that is often overlooked, learning how to take medicine like a gentleman.
Worming is an important part of the spring process to keep these horses healthy and happy. We are so grateful to have found HorsePrerace for our de-worming supplies! With a herd of 25 it is a big investment in money and time to keep them healthy and their prices are unbeatable.
This is an affiliate link so we do earn a small commission on the products purchased through it, however we have been recommending their website since we started using them. https://horseprerace.com/ref/67/

01/30/2026

Horse and Mule Backcountry Packing Class Just in Time for Spring!!

April 30-May 4, 2026
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.
​
​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.
​
https://www.hbkhorses.com/packing-class/packing-class
Course Details:
The course will take place over five consecutive days, with a 30-minute lunch break with lunch provided by HBK Ranch. You will receive 35 hours of instruction.​
The first full days are new material each day. The fifth day, 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, just a little less practice time.
​
Course Content:
Tie up knots
Anatomy of horses and mules, basic safety and care
History and use of Decker Pack Saddles vs Sawbuck Pack Saddles
Complete breakdown of Decker Saddle, rigging and ropes.
Proper us of Panniers
Manty box loads and duffel loads
How to fit saddles, riding and pack saddles - bring your own saddles for help with fitting your saddle appropriately!
Basket Hitch, Crowsfoot, Christenson Hitch, Barrel Hitch, Diamond Hitch
Rope Braiding
How to pack antlers
Riding saddle demonstrations and equipment reviews

01/29/2026

Great deal on beef from our ranch!

Get a quarter beef without the mystery of the hanging weight! These animals have already arrived at the processor and are hanging and aging. This is a great way to get bulk beef and know exactly what you are going to spend, no waiting for weights!! The hanging weight of each individual quarter is li...

08/15/2025

Horse and Mule Backcountry Packing Class Just in Time for Hunting Season!!

September 4-8, 2025
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.
​
​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.
​
https://www.hbkhorses.com/packing-class/packing-class
Course Details:
The course will take place over five consecutive days, with a 30-minute lunch break with lunch provided by HBK Ranch. You will receive 35 hours of instruction.​
The first full days are new material each day. The fifth day, 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, just a little less practice time.
​
Course Content:
Tie up knots
Anatomy of horses and mules, basic safety and care
History and use of Decker Pack Saddles vs Sawbuck Pack Saddles
Complete breakdown of Decker Saddle, rigging and ropes.
Proper us of Panniers
Manty box loads and duffel loads
How to fit saddles, riding and pack saddles - bring your own saddles for help with fitting your saddle appropriately!
Basket Hitch, Crowsfoot, Christenson Hitch, Barrel Hitch, Diamond Hitch
Rope Braiding
How to pack antlers
Riding saddle demonstrations and equipment reviews

07/24/2025

When you start asking our family about our favorite memories so many of them from each and every one of us start with “On one of our trips into the Bob Marshall….”
We have been so incredibly fortunate to pack our four beautiful kids into the back country for 3-4 days at a time 4 times. As we watch each one of them decompress from the lack of screens, constant activity and distractions we become more and more committed to passing these skills on to others so that they can provide the same for their families.
If you have any interest in this beautiful lifestyle join us for the packing class in September. Even if you don’t have horses and mules yet this is a great jumping off point to learn what you need, what you should look for and meet other people that are interested in the same things. The packing class has been a jumping off point for so many lifelong friendships, joint pack trips and absolute joy in the back country.
Jordan is adept at teaching students of all levels. From the complete novice to someone just looking to brush up on their skills! �Pack saddles will be available for purchase; and usually there are a few awesome mountain horses and mules up for sale that you can get to know!

Join us September 4-8 at the ranch in Frenchtown!
https://www.hbkhorses.com/packing-class/packing-class

07/22/2025

🌲🐴 Backcountry Packing Class — Sept 4–8, 2025 🌄
Have you ever dreamed of loading up your pack saddle and heading deep into the wilderness on horseback or mule? Join us for a five-day, immersive Packing Class at HBK Ranch in Frenchtown, MT!

📅 Dates: September 4–8, 2025
📍 Location: HBK Ranch — 14655 Hamel Road, Frenchtown, MT
🕘 Duration: 5 days, ~35 hours of instruction (30-min lunch daily, provided by the ranch!)

✅ What You’ll Learn:

Horse & mule anatomy, care, and safety
Decker vs. Sawbuck pack saddles
Rigging: panniers, box & duffel loads
Hitching techniques: basket, barrel, diamond, Crow’s foot & Christensen hitches
Rope braiding & antler-packing methods
Practical saddle fitting—bring your own and get hands-on tips!

🎓 Who’s It For?
Open to everyone—no age or gender restrictions. Ideal for parents, kids, couples, beginners, and seasoned packers alike.
💵 Registration Fees:

$500 early-bird (pay in full at sign-up)
$530 split payment ($265 now, $265 later)
$400 re-takes for alumni of Smoke Elser or Jordan's classes

🚐 Extras:
All stock & equipment provided
Dry camping available onsite (portable toilets + creek water)
Ranch-cooked lunches featuring fresh, pasture-raised meats
Exclusive discounts on HBK’s Decker Pack Saddles
https://www.hbkhorses.com/packing-class/packing-class
🎯 Limited to 12 spots—reserve yours now!

05/20/2025

Horse and Mule Backcountry Packing Class
September 4-8
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.
​
​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.
​
https://www.hbkhorses.com/packing-class/packing-class
Course Details:
The course will take place over five consecutive days, with a 30-minute lunch break with lunch provided by HBK Ranch. You will receive 35 hours of instruction.​
The first full days are new material each day. The fifth day, 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, just a little less practice time.
​
Course Content:
Tie up knots
Anatomy of horses and mules, basic safety and care
History and use of Decker Pack Saddles vs Sawbuck Pack Saddles
Complete breakdown of Decker Saddle, rigging and ropes.
Proper us of Panniers
Manty box loads and duffel loads
How to fit saddles, riding and pack saddles - bring your own saddles for help with fitting your saddle appropriately!
Basket Hitch, Crowsfoot, Christenson Hitch, Barrel Hitch, Diamond Hitch
Rope Braiding
How to pack antlers
Riding saddle demonstrations and equipment reviews

05/12/2025

It was a quiet Sunday at the ranch. Some rest and some projects completed. The ponies obviously took the term lazy Sunday pretty seriously.