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Animal Welfare

Animals deserve to be treated with kindness and compassion! ORANGE Nation Peru treats  their pack horses and mules with dignity and respect. All of our non-Inca Trail hikes work with mules and horses to carry your camping gear.

No one is more concerned about animal welfare than our company! Here are the answers to some commonly asked questions about mules and horses. If you have any other questions – please ask!

What kinds of animals do we use?

We use mule teams and single horses for emergencies while trekking. We use more mules and horses than most companies, allowing them each to carry less weight per trip.

How many animals do we have?

We do not own them; each horseman has a team of about 20 mules and 10 horses. The horseman chooses which horses and mules have rested and are ready for another trek. There are 7 Orange Nation Peru horsemen.

How long do the animals work each day?

Their work hours and days are very limited. They can work 5 hours a day, 5 days a week, but this is the maximum.

If the animals are sweating, is that bad?

No, it’s actually good. Sweating is the animal’s way of cooling itself. We help our horseman with vitamin E supplements into the animal’s feed to promote sweating and also add electrolytes to their feed to replace necessary elements lost through sweating. Animals never go more than an hour without access to water.

How often does the vet check the animals?

As an example, our animals are seen by a vet a minimum of 2 times a year or as needed. This is a requirement to work with us. This is part of our commitment to animal welfare.

How much do the animals weigh?

The average weight of a pack horse or mule is 1200 pounds.

Thank you for taking the time to read this! We hope this gives you a better idea about our services and our responsibilities!