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Animals deserve to be treated with kindness and compassion. SAM Travel Peru treats their packing horses and mules with dignity and respect. (We work with mules and horses for our alternative treks ONLY).
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 mules and horses for emergencies while trekking. We use more mules and horses than other 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. There are 7 SAM Travel 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, this is the maximum we allow.
If the animals are sweating, is that bad?
No, it’s actually good. Sweating is the animal’s way of cooling itself. We collaborate with 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 our animals is 1,200 pounds.
