Exercise comes in different types. Some you' ve identified like cardio and strength.

Here are two other types of " exercise" that count a lot:

(1) Feet -- start exercising in your hunting boots; you still have time to get some blisters, remedy the problem, heal them up, and then callous them over -- now your feet are set.

(2) Joints -- start exercising " under weight" (say a 20 pound pack and a 10 pound stick). Joint pain can really put a damper on things -- exercising your way into it can reduce/eliminate it or at least let you know if it is a problem. I would make sure I had some Advil (painkiller/ANTI-INFLAMMATORY) or Naprosin (prescription, start taking it a week before the trip and always with food.) Now your joints are set.

(1) and (2) above -- don' t bet on the use of horses to eliminate the stresses to feet and joints.

Side Note:
When you take off on your 24 mile horse ride make sure you are wearing your long underwear bottoms -- NO MATTER THE TEMPERATURE THAT DAY!

Never Go Undergunned,
EKM