Equestrian Freedom or Political Repression?

Rare film shows Long Riders crossing Tibet in 1942

In the spring of 1942 the Japanese had conquered the eastern portion of the previously impregnable British Empire. With India threatened, and their allies in China surrounded by hostile Japanese forces, Roosevelt and Churchill hatched the idea of using the mountainous kingdom of Tibet as a transit station for supplies to be moved overland from India to China.
Enter the most unlikely Long Rider in Tibet’s long history, the dashing Count Ilya Tolstoy, a grandson of the famous Russian author. Accompanying Tolstoy was Captain Brooke Dolan, a brilliant Princeton University naturalist turned US army spy. Their mission was simple. Go to India. Find horses. Ride over the Himalayas to Lhasa without getting killed. Introduce themselves to the Dalai Lama. Entice him to become a diplomatic ally. Then ride on to China before reporting back to Washington DC.

After surviving many adventures, Tolstoy wrote a detailed story about the remarkable ride, which includes a photo of a mounted Tibetan aristocrat (right). Dolan survived the journey but was later killed in combat. What was not known was that before his death, Dolan also recorded his version of events in a film entitled Inside Tibet.

Unfortunately, because the film had been created for America’s Office of Strategic Services, the precursor to the modern CIA, Dolan’s unique contribution to Tibetan and Long Rider history was classified as secret and remained effectively lost for many decades. Thanks to Roger Croston, a British scholar who studies Tibetan history, this unique film was rediscovered and may be viewed on You Tube.

The colour movie shows the Long Riders travelling across India and Tibet. It includes astonishing footage of the unspoiled countryside and depicts beautiful palaces which have since been destroyed. Plus, the equestrian information is incredible. The girthless Oriental pack saddle is clearly depicted being used by pack horses in Dolan’s caravan. Additionally, there is a stunning sequence involving the Tibetan national cavalry. And there is even footage of a Tibetan Appaloosa horse!

Lithuanian Long Rider Travels to Asia

Restless equestrian traveller Vaidotas Digaitis has made another remarkable journey. The Lithuanian Long Rider has already made two important trips. In 2010 Vaidotas participated in what has been called Lithuania’s Riding Renaissance, when he journeyed 2,000 kilometres (1,250 miles) from the Baltic to the Black Sea. In 2012 Vaidotas became the first Long Rider to reach the Arctic Circle since the 1950s. During this 6,000 kilometre (3,700 miles) journey, Vaidotas began the ride at his home in the village of Laukuva, Lithuania.  He crossed Russia (Kaliningrad), Poland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, reached the Arctic Circle and then rode home.

When Vaidotas recently set on his third journey, he once again used Žemaitukai horses. These Lithuanian horses are famous for being strong travellers. In the company of his two horses, Azuolas and Ceklis, Vaidotas rode 3,000 kilometres (1,800 miles) from Lithuania, across Russia, over the Ural Mountains and into Asia. The photo shows him at the point where Europe meets Asia. The journey was concluded at Surmenevsky, in the district of Chelyabinsk

Long Riders meet during historic trip

Vyv Wood-Gee continues to link up Great Britain’s equestrian past. The route of the 2,400 kilometre (1,500 miles) journey is the first to connect eight white horses carved into the country’s hillsides. Having reached southern England, Vyv was greeted by another equestrian pioneer. Mounted on his horse, Strider, Long Rider William Reddaway recently completed the first journey to thirty of Great Britain’s historic cathedrals and abbeys.

Trouble while riding to the End of the World

Filipe Leite, who is on a journey from Brazil to Patagonia, has ridden 2,200 kilometres (1,370 miles). In addition to enduring serious illness, Filipe had to travel along a terrible road.

“I have never seen a main road in such a horrific state. Some of the holes looked like they were created by meteors. If a car was to hit one of these craters at full speed, it would most certainly mean serious injury for those inside or even death.”

Despite the adversity, Filipe wrote, “It’s great to know that although I am riding alone out here, there are fellow Long Riders all over the world blazing their own trails. Distance and time may separate our physical beings but the saddle and our love for the horse unites our souls. We all ride together. Long live the Long Riders Guild.”

A Demonstration of Equestrian Ethics

The Guild would like to welcome Katrina Littlechild as a new Associate Member. When she set off in the company of her horse, Cognac, their goal was to ride from John O’Groats, Scotland to Land’s End, England. Though Katrina had ridden nearly one thousand miles, this exemplary Long Rider prematurely concluded her journey just short of her goal rather than imperil the welfare of her horse.

“After looking at all our options, I didn't feel I could make him comfortable enough to continue, so I made the difficult decision to take him home and rest him for a good few months.”

Solo in Siberia!

Chasing Fame from the Saddle

For nearly a century they were known as the Forgotten Heroes of equestrian travel. A ground-breaking investigation has now brought them out of the shadows of the past.
“In 1915, four young men arrived on horseback at the towering gates of the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. They were dressed in their finest cowboy duds and had even given their horses a good bath and brushing before they arrived. The men sat tall in their saddle as they walked their horses through the crowded thoroughfare, a shaggy black dog trotting behind them. They had good reason to promenade – they were taking the final steps of an unprecedented equestrian journey. The riders were on their last dollar, road weary, and homesick, but nonetheless optimistic. “
Thus begins an enthralling investigation into one of the most significant equestrian journeys in history, the 20,000 mile ride done by George Beck (right) and his three companions.
Samantha Szesciorka is uniquely qualified to write this overdue academic study. A journalist, film producer and museum curator, Samantha is also an avid Long Rider who is currently making her second equestrian journey in the USA.
Because she had personally experienced hardships in the saddle during her first ride, Samantha brought an exceptional perspective to what became an intensive two-year investigation. In addition to studying equestrian travel history and reviewing newspaper archives, she went to the Bainbridge Historical Museum, where she inspected George Beck’s diaries. The resulting doctorial thesis provides more than a mere recounting of where four men rode to. Samantha is the first academic to discover and decipher points about the Overland Westerners which have eluded previous queries. Her most startling deduction is connected to the mystery of why, even though they had spent three years in saddle riding 20,352 miles, the Long Riders were ignored by the press and forgotten by the public.
America, Samantha deduced, was a “changing nation” in 1915.
“Why did others manage to achieve a modicum of fame? I think the answer lies in the way America re-embraced the symbolism of the West,” she wrote.
Beck and his friends dreamed of fame and never found it. A century after that journey’s tragic end, Samantha has written a “Story from the Road” that asks us to consider what price we will pay in order to achieve that mirage called “celebrity.”

Tips on Equestrian Travel with Children

Historic family journey recalled in new book

Ride across the desert to help Wild Horses

Samantha Szesciorka doesn’t just talk about protecting mustangs. She is riding a thousand mile journey through the Nevada desert country to demonstrate the incredible stamina of these legendary horses. Sage is the nine-year-old mustang who is accompanying Samantha.
“When you’re moving at three miles per hour, you see everything. You really get to know a place when you go through it on a horse,” Samantha told a Nevada newspaper.

Guild Flag to Accomplish Historic Journey

Lisa Stewart (right) is one of America’s most dedicated Long Riders. After riding more than 3,000 miles across the USA in the early 1980s, Lisa helped launch one of that country's most successful saddle companies. She is the author of a special study entitled Saddling in the 21st Century and has continued to explore the nation on her horse, Chief. Thanks to her years in the saddle, her miles on the road and her knowledge of travel, Lisa responded to a request to act as the mentor for a historically significant ride.
A handful of men have ridden to all 48 American states, the most celebrated being the Overland Westerners. Yet no woman has ever attempted this rigorous multi-year trip. Meredith Cherry is preparing to become the first woman to try. Her Centauride will begin shortly. Lisa, who is acting as Meredith’s mentor, is seen holding the Guild flag that will be carried on the journey. This flag was previously carried by Bernice Ende, who recently completed the first ride across the United States in both directions on the same journey.

The Lost Sea Expedition inspires documentary

Some Long Riders, such as Bernice Ende, are so enchanted by equestrian travel that they make multiple journeys by horseback. Only a few, such as Lee Young, leave the saddle and become avid wagon travellers. Bernie Harberts is another Long Rider. He not only made an “ocean to ocean” ride across the USA, he then travelled by wagon from Canada to Mexico. The Lost Sea Expedition is a documentary film which recounts how Bernie made a 2,500 mile journey to rediscover the lost sea that once existed in the centre of the North American continent. With the help of his small mule, Polly, the trip crossed ten states.
“Out there in my tiny wagon, I filmed what I lived: tumbleweed gales, snow storms, the highs of Badlands Blue and the low of Prairie Fever. I lived among the people I interviewed; ranchers, Lakota elders, scientists, creationists and every day folks,” Bernie informed the Guild.
For those who wish to emulate Bernie’s mode of travel, The Wagon Travel Handbook is the finest book ever penned about modern wagon travel.

First “Ocean to Ocean” Ride in Both Directions Completed

The Guild has offered its "congratulations" to some remarkable men and women, who completed many a challenging journey in diverse and dangerous countries all over the world. But this is the first time we have ever congratulated someone for having opened an entirely new page in equestrian travel history.

The first person known to have ridden “ocean to ocean” was Willard Glazier, who rode from the Atlantic to the Pacific in 1875. In 1911 Two Gun Nan Aspinwall became the first woman to ride “ocean to ocean.” Hundreds of Long Riders have repeated the journey, in both directions, in the intervening decades. Yet no one had ever ridden “ocean to ocean” in both directions on the same journey - until now. 

Bernice Ende had ridden 35,500 kilometres (22,000 miles) during seven consecutive journeys in the United States and Canada. Yet this was to be her biggest challenge. In the company of her two Fjords, Essie Pearl and Montana Spirit, Bernice set off from her home in Montana. The team reached the Atlantic Ocean on October 8, 2015. After wintering over on the East coast Bernice resumed riding. She reached the Pacific Ocean (top) on June 17, 2016. By the time she rode back to Montana, Bernice had been in the saddle for two and a half years and had ridden 8,000 miles. 

Long Rider history is filled with examples of travellers who drew inspiration from others. Bernice is no exception. Having entitled her journey “From Suffragettes to Lady Long Riders,” this mounted champion of female liberty carried a message in honour of all those women who sacrificed so much in the cause of freedom. When she reached New York, Bernice made a special pilgrimage to the grave of Susan B. Anthony, one of the early champions of women’s rights (bottom). 

Due to the historic nature of this journey, the Guild has placed Bernice in the LRG Records.

To learn more about Bernice’s “ocean to ocean” ride, visit her website.

Exploring Britain's horse history on horseback

Having previously ridden from John O’Groats in Scotland to Land’s End in Cornwall, Long Rider Vyv Wood-Gee knows her way around great Britain. She has now departed on a unique new journey. Her goal is to ride to eight of the enigmatic white horses carved into Britain's hillsides.

No Pony Picnic on Epic Ride to Patagonia

Legendary Long Rider Horses Honoured

In 1925 Aimé Tschiffely set off on a 10,000 mile journey from Buenos Aires to New York. Accompanying the Swiss Long Rider were Mancha and Gato, two Criollo geldings who were destined to become the world’s most celebrated road horses. After overcoming incredible challenges, the travellers were given a tumultuous welcome when they arrived in the United States.

To celebrate the memory of these equine heroes, the Breyer company has worked with the Tschiffely Literary Estate to create special commemorative models of Mancha and Gato.

“After hearing the amazing story of Aimé Tschiffely and the faithful Mancha and Gato we knew we had to make them into Breyer models! How could we not honour such an amazing feat?” said Rowena Reid, a company official.

The unveiling of the two models will take place at the Breyer Fest. An estimated 10,000 people are expected to attend the event being held July 22 – 24 at the International Horse Park in Lexington, Kentucky.

As a mark of their historical importance, the company has announced that the number of models of Mancha and Gato will be strictly limited.

The Breyer Company website published two stories (dated May 17 and 18) about the exceptional Long Rider models.

Deadly Insects Encountered by Long Riders

Three French Long Riders confronted an unexpected danger during their journey across Argentina. Capucine Lelièvre informed the Guild that the area between Carrenleufu and Lago Winter is infested with venomous Giant Silkworm caterpillars (right - top).
This insect’s defence mechanism consists of bristles that inject potentially lethal venom that contains a potent anti-clotting agent. The toxin causes internal bleeding that fills the surrounding tissue, can spread through the internal organs and may lead to death. Scientists estimate that 500 people have died as a result of being stung by this caterpillar.
Though the caterpillars were known to inhabit Uruguay and Paraguay, Argentine Long Riders were unaware that the insects had migrated south into their country. Thus the French Long Riders not only unexpectedly discovered the tiny terrors, one of the travellers was injured and required surgery.
“We were encircled by thousands of venomous caterpillars.  Caterpillars were on the ground, hanging from tree branches and all around us. They were so many that we could hear "ploc, ploc, ploc" when they fell on the ground like rain! Some landed on our tack (right - middle)  and some on our clothes. It was a real nightmare.”
Capucine warned, “The caterpillars were covering the trees, eating the leaves and destroying the forest. When they were falling on us, we could not remove them by hand, so we used wooden sticks to take them off.”
Yet as a result of being stung, Charlotte Simsar required surgery to her leg.
The spread of the Giant Silkworm caterpillars south into Patagonia represents a threat to Long Riders and their horses.

Safety Vest could Save Long Rider Lives

In 2013 the worst accident in the history of modern equestrian travel took the life of a female Long Rider, left her companion seriously wounded and gravely injured their horses. English Long Rider Christine Henchie, 29, was killed instantly by an out-of-control bus in Tanzania. Her fiancé, South African Long Rider Billy Brenchley, 43, escaped death by inches but suffered a broken leg.
The threat posed by dangerous drivers has increased during the intervening years. The Guild recently received an email from American Long Rider Bernice Ende. After completing eight journeys in the USA and Canada, Bernice has more than 25,000 miles under her saddle. So imagine what it means when the most travelled Long Rider in the USA wrote to say that the roads in that country have grown more dangerous than ever.
"The roads are by far more risky. I just rode along Highway 20, which had to have been one of the most nightmarish stretches of roads I have EVER travelled,” Bernice informed the Guild.
Dangerous traffic and inattentive drivers represent a growing threat. But an innovate and inexpensive idea may help reduce the dangers of riding alongside the road.
When English Long Rider Callum Back joined Dutch Long Rider Pia Gjedde Hejgaard, their journey along Australia’s Bicentennial National Trail began in the back country. Unfortunately they soon found themselves forced to ride alongside busy roads filled with speeding motorists. After several close calls, Callum thought of a way to alert drivers to the travellers’ presence.
“The idea first came about several months into our trip,” Pia explained to the Guild. “We had travelled through very remote areas where most people still used horses for cattle work, so they were always thoughtful and safe when driving past us. Once we got to more populated areas, we found that drivers were being terribly impatient and very dangerous, driving past us way too close and fast. It wouldn't have bothered us too much with our two very experienced horses, but we had just added a young brumby (born and bred wild Australian horse) to our team. After a while we realised that the people driving past us might not know how they should drive around horses.”
Callum’s solution was to purchase a high-visibility vest, costing two dollars, and a black marking pencil. He then wrote “Pass Wide & Slow” in large letters on the back of the vest (top photo). Wearing his vest (bottom photo), Callum observed a dramatic decrease in the driver’s speed and an increase in the rider’s safety.
Pia wrote, “We found a solution that worked surprisingly well! It turns out that most people just don't know how to drive appropriately around horses but are usually happy to pass slow and wide if asked.”
Callum's inexpensive vest might not have saved Christie's life in Africa but it would certainly have improved her chances of survival. This simple idea can be used by Long Riders around the world, who can translate Callum’s words into the local language.

Little Long Riders Explore the World

The Long Riders’ Guild is proud of its extraordinary Members. Among them are Hadji Shamsuddin of Afghanistan, who rode a thousand miles through that war-zone, Jean-Louis Gouraud of France, who rode 3,000 miles from Paris to Moscow, Tim Cope of Australia, who rode 6,000 miles from Mongolia to Hungary, Claudia Gottet of Switzerland, who rode 8,000 miles from Arabia to the Alps, Adnan Azzam of Syria, who rode 10,000 miles from Madrid to Mecca, and Vladimir Fissenko of Russia, who rode 19,000 miles from Patagonia to Alaska.
While each of these journeys required courage, they share one thing in common. They were all made by adults. What is not commonly known is that there have been an unexpected number of “Little Long Riders.”
Bud and Temple Abernathy were eleven and seven years old when they rode, alone, from New York to San Francisco in 1911. At the age of nine, Lennie Gwyther rode 1,000 kilometres across Australia in 1932 making him the youngest known person to make a solo equestrian journey. Jessica Chitty (pictured right) travelled with her parents from Spain to Greece in 1976. Mounted on a donkey named Hamilcar, Jessica was only three years old at the start, making her the youngest Long Rider on record. In 1983 five-year-old Fawn Fields rode her pony 1,200 miles from Texas to Arizona, in the company of her parents. In 1986 at the age of nine, Hjoerdis Rickert rode 1,200 miles from Le Puy, France, to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, in the company of her parents.
Small equestrian travellers are once again in the saddle. A group of ten children and mothers are riding along the GR7 Trail that passes through Spain’s natural parks from the south up to the Pyrenees Mountains. Among the Little Long Riders are Eirnin (4), Fhairige (3) and Ceol (7).
Meanwhile, south of the Equator, a mother and her ten-year-old daughter are well on their way along Australia’s Bicentennial National Trail.
Billions of human beings walked on this planet, but as these examples demonstrate, there are only a handful of the rare "Little Long Riders" who set off in search of adventure.

One Book Changes Three Lives

One day after work Charlotte Simsar visited the library. There she saw Australian Long Rider Tim Cope’s book On the Trail of Genghis Khan. It recounted how he had ridden on horseback from Mongolia to Hungary. Suddenly she thought, “Why not live lives of adventure rather than just read about adventurous lives?”
That question resulted in a journey across Patagonia by “The Three C’s,” Charlotte Vanderputte (left) Charlotte Simsar (centre) and Capucine Lelièvre. In a new “Story from the Road” entitled Hoofprints of Patagonia; Capucine describes how “Equestrian culture is very much alive at the end of the world.”
As they made their way across a beautiful countryside, the French Long Riders discovered “There was no visual or sound pollution. No trace of humans for eight days, Nature reigns supreme, imposing its laws on our little caravan.”
Their route took them across one estancia which consisted of several million hectares (acres). “We met a gaucho who hadn’t seen anyone for twelve days and was afraid we would pass by without visiting him.”
After months in the saddle, The Three C’s concluded their journey with healthy horses and a vital lesson. “We have been marked for life by the gauchos’ goodwill, generosity and wisdom.”

Equine Traveller Announces “Declaration of Emergency”

While the majority of Americans are familiar with the political aspirations of Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, it may surprise people to learn that another political campaign has also been launched in the United States and that this movement is about the need to preserve equestrian freedom.
John Sears has been travelling with his mules through the western portion of the USA for many years. During his travels Sears has denounced the spread of a threat he defines as Megatropolis, a “developing machine that’s only real purpose is to gobble the Earth up until it’s been consumed.”
In an interview with Californian journalist, Rick Paulas, Sears explained how an expanding number of local city ordinances are being passed in an effort to systematically remove people’s right to sleep outdoors in a “public” space.
“We have a right to travel in this country freely and to choose how we do it,” Sears told Paulas. “But if you don’t have the right to stop and rest, or the right to go to sleep at night, you can’t exercise that right to travel.”
Sears believes that Americans are unaware that their fundamental right to travel freely across the country is being endangered by restrictive local laws. He has written a “Declaration of Emergency” wherein he urges his fellow citizens to protect their civil liberties.
“The ordinances go against any real law of common sense. They’re laws against life itself,” Sears said. “It’s illegal. It’s not acceptable. If it’s acceptable, this country better quit celebrating the Fourth of July and stop uttering the word freedom, because there is none.”

Argentina’s Astonishing “Lost” Long Rider

Millions of people ride horses. Only a few become Long Riders. What is truly rare is to discover a "lost" Long Rider of great historical importance. During his recent journey across Argentina, Agustín María Mayer made such a discovery. While riding through the small town of Bolivar, he was told about Marcelino Soulé (right). To understand the significance of that Argentine Long Rider you must first appreciate the man who inspired him.
In 1925 Aimé Tschiffely set out to ride 10,000 miles alone from Buenos Aires to New York City. For the next three years the Swiss Long Rider and his two Criollo geldings, Mancha and Gato, survived a litany of hardships unequalled in equestrian travel. Tschiffely's original plan was to ride from Buenos Aires to California, then across the USA to the Atlantic. Yet once he crossed into America Tschiffely quickly changed his mind when the driver of a car deliberately hit him and Mancha. Tschiffely felt that the American drivers were so dangerous that he shortened his journey and turned his back on California. Instead, Tschiffely rode to Washington DC and then on to New York.
For nearly a century it has been a common belief that Tschiffely's original plan was never completed. We now know that Marcelino Soulé rode from South America to North America - and then east to west across the United States, making it one of the most important equestrian journeys of the 20th century!
The story of Soulé's ride has been rescued from the shadows by two ardent Argentines. Senor Santos Vega preserved a copy of Soulé’s rare book, "Cutting the Continent." And historian Matias Gabriel Terrara has spent years collecting information and photos that document Marcelino Soulé's journey.
Thanks to their work, the Guild has confirmed that Soulé began his ride in his hometown of Bolivar on July 27, 1938. More than a thousand people gathered in the plaza to say goodbye to the Long Rider and his Criollo horses, Argentino and Bolivar. The journey went well until the trio arrived in Columbia, where Soulé became critically ill with malaria. After being hospitalized for 21 days, he discovered that his horse Bolivar had died. Refusing to quit, Soulé continued north. He is supposed to have swum across the Panama Canal with his horse. In Mexico he was attacked by bandits and Argentino was stolen. Having obtained another mount, the determined traveller continued. He arrived in Washington DC on February 9, 1941, met President Franklin Roosevelt, and then rode on to New York City. After resting, Soulé rode to Chicago and then on to San Francisco. He died at the age of 44 in a car accident in Argentina.
Matias Gabriel Terrara has created an extensive website which provides details about Soulé’s remarkable journey. The Guild would like to thank Matias and Senor Vega for ensuring that the memory of this great Argentine Long Rider was preserved for posterity.

Long Rider Creates Library on the Hoof

When Nirwan Ahmad Arsuka (top) set off in 2014 on the Equine Equator Expedition he had no idea that his journey across Indonesia would inspire the creation of a horse-powered book delivery system. Nirwan made his journey with the aid of unique horses. He rode a purebred Sandalwood pony, one of the indigenous equines from Sumba Island. A larger KPI (Kuda Pacu Indonesia) horse carried the Canadian adjustable pack saddle endorsed by the Guild.
Having studied Indonesia’s equestrian history, Nirwan wrote, “The great contribution of the horse came about not merely because of its capacity to carry the weight of people and bring them together, but also to simultaneously bridge diverse thinking and imaginations.”
During his ride Nirwan was impressed by the many enthusiastic children he met.
“The problem was that the children did not posses adequate knowledge about their community or history. Because they didn't understand their roots their future was in doubt. That's why I decided to find a local partner to help me organize a mobile library that would provide good books for children.”Nirwan (bottom) enlisted the help of Ridwan Sururi, who lives in the village of Serang, in the Purbalingga region of Java island. With the aid of a white pony named Luna, the Kudapustaka (Horse-Library) was launched and books began to be delivered to far flung villages. Ridwan visits schools on a weekly basis, where local children can borrow the books Nirwan has contributed to the free library. If you would like to donate books to the Indonesian Horse Library please contact the Guild for details.

Journey to the End of the Earth

In 2012, inspired by writer/adventurer Aimé Tschiffely’s 1925 long ride from Buenos Aires to Washington, D.C., Filipe Leite set out from Calgary, Canada and rode 16,000 kilometres (9,940 miles) to his native Brazil. The ”Journey Across the Americas” lasted two years and required him to cross ten countries.
“In the months following my welcome home and stepping down from the saddle, it became evident that I was not the same boy who had departed Calgary. Seeing the world at 4 km/h had opened my eyes to the effects of climate change, to drug wars, loss of habitat, economic strife and the role of the old ways in a modern world. I discovered the Earth is full of curious, hopeful and helpful beings. And most importantly, I realized I had become a 28-year-old nomadic spirit who could no longer stay still.”
Filipe has now departed on a “Journey to the End of the Earth.”
He plans to spend the next year riding 8.000 kilometres (5,000 miles) across Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and on to the tip of Patagonia.  During the ride Filipe will be raising funds for the Barretos Children’s Cancer Hospital.

Hoofing it on the Pacific Crest Trail

Gillian Larson (right) rode her mare, Shyla, 4,286 kilometres (2,663 miles) from the southern terminus of the Pacific Crest Trail all the way to Canada. The experienced Long Rider, who is currently making her second journey along the PCT, wants to contribute to the success of others who are hoping to experience the PCT on horseback by gathering information for a guidebook.
“I learned a lot on my first journey, and I hope to put that knowledge to good use on this next ride.  Once again, Shyla will be my main riding horse, while her son Takoda takes on the packing duties,” Gillian wrote.
Meanwhile, prior to her departure, Gillian wrote a special “how to” article for the Guild. It explains the difficulties encountered by Long Riders who travel on this popular trail.

Preparing for a trek on the BNT

Preston Stroud and Kathryn Holzberger set off in May, 2014 to ride the length of Australia’s Bicentennial National Trail. They spent nineteen months travelling 5,330 kilometres (3,311 miles) from Cooktown to Healesville.
“We have been privileged to experience some of what our amazing country has to offer – from the clear, blue, sunny skies of Queensland to the frigid winds of the high country of New South Wales and Victoria, the dry desperation of drought to an abundance of water and feed,” Kathryn wrote.
In response to a request from the Guild, Kathryn has composed a special travel guide designed to educate would-be equestrian travellers who plan to ride along this challenging trail.
“The biggest lesson that we have learnt on the BNT is to plan and plan for your plans to change! Being flexible and being able to change your plans is so important.”

Courage and Determination Overcome Adversity

The Long Riders’ Guild is accustomed to dealing with brave men and women. However some equestrian journeys involve circumstances that force us to reconsider our previous definition of “bravery.” Such an example is connected to the newest Member of the Guild, Alina Grace Dudding (right).
Having grown up in Alaska, Alina was an experienced camper who knew her planned journey along the rugged Pacific Crest Trail would prove difficult. The PCT winds 4,200 kilometres (2,650 miles) from its southern terminus near Mexico to its northern terminus in Canada. It twists and turns through California, Oregon and Washington, forcing the traveller to ride atop the spine of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Along the way travellers can expect to see the glories of Nature; but food, shelter and help are often far away.
Jon Dudding, father of the Long Rider, wrote to the Guild to say, “Many thru hikers think that one has it easy because you are riding a horse. They have no idea of what that really means in terms of meeting the needs of not only yourself but your horse for feed and water and everything else.”
The preparation which Alina made was very commendable and her system of keeping re-supplied was excellent. Yet a tough trail like the PCT puts even the best laid plans to the test. After having nearly completed the journey, Alina and her horse Valentino’s progress was blocked by a heavy snow fall. In a demonstration of incredible determination, Alina packed a snow shovel on her backpack and swung into the saddle. What occurred next is surely one of the most remarkable horse adventures in modern times.
It took Alina and Valentino a month to do the last sixty miles. Along the way they survived freezing weather, deep snow and travelled along a snowy cliff. In her blog Alina wrote how after months of anticipation, the tired Long Rider finally reached the end of the trail in the pitch dark.
For details of Alina's first journey, please click here.
“This was definitely not the ending I’d been picturing for the previous six months! I had imagined how I would react when I saw the monument but it was surprisingly anticlimactic,” Alina recalled.
But she had done it. As a result of this life-changing experience, Alina is the first woman to twice ride the length of the Pacific Crest Trail solo.
Welcome to the Guild, Long Rider!

Long Rider Mountain Man Guides German Documentary Across America

Andreas Wagner, a documentary film maker working for German/French public broadcaster Arte Television, contacted the Guild in 2014 with an unusual request.
“I am currently in preproduction for a five-part documentary series on the North American Prairies and Great Plains. Our idea at this stage: Telling the stories of people, nature and history alongside the Great Plains Trail. For this purpose I want to ask the Guild for help in finding the ideal protagonist: a Long Rider who would dare to cross this trail from the Canadian border to Texas on horseback. More precisely we are looking for a 21st century trapper and passionate horseman with a strong personal connection to the landscapes of the US, someone who has devoted his life to exploring and preserving this unique part of North America.”
The Guild didn’t hesitate to recommend Hawk Hurst (right) as the most suitably qualified equestrian traveller for this unique project. In addition to having made two journeys across the western United States, Hawk is an expert in the history and techniques of the American Mountain Man.
In the company of German actress Marie Bäumer, Hawk travelled from the Gila Wilderness in New Mexico to Montana. The five part documentary Zwei im Wilden Western (Two in the Wild West) is now available on line.

French Long Rider maps route across Patagonia

The Guild would like to welcome new Member Charlotte Simsar, who was part of the team that created an equestrian route across southern Argentina.

New Film Recounts Ride Across Czech Republic

Long Rider Lights the way to Safety

William Reddaway undertook a historic 4,200 kilometre (2,600 miles) journey in 2013 when he visited 30 cathedrals and abbeys throughout Great Britain. Strider’s Ride Around England documents this unique journey. William is one of the hundreds of Long Riders who contributed valuable information to the forthcoming Encyclopaedia of Equestrian Exploration. One of William’s observations concerned attaching small flashing lights to the saddlebags. This tip was deemed so important that it is being shared without delay, so as to enhance the safety of other equestrian travellers.
The English Long Rider wrote, “I am attaching two photos showing an example of my lights. There are dozens of possible lights used by cyclists here in Great Britain, chiefly not to enable them to see but to make sure that motorists notice them. I chose some very light little ones that came in either white or red. These pictures are of a white one. I had a small loop of canvas on each saddlebag and they fixed on to that with an elastic loop on the light. They could be set to continuous light or flashing. On the roads here getting motorists to NOTICE a horse and rider is really important. Hence the yellow hi-viz vest I wore and the use of these lights. I used the lights only when on the road when light conditions were poor and I wanted us to stand out. They are not very bright in good light. In addition to getting Strider and I noticed, I reckoned that if we were wiped out by a vehicle there would be plenty to support a case that the driver was totally negligent since we were very visible! In fact if you are going to be in places where drivers really would not expect a horse and rider then you do owe it to people to stand out and catch their eye quickly.”

Founding Member Turns 80 in the Saddle

English Long Rider Robin Hanbury-Tenison has packed a lot of life into his 80 years. He made the first land crossing of South America at its widest point, led twenty-four expeditions, was awarded the Patron's Gold Medal by the Royal Geographical Society and was hailed by The Sunday Times as "the greatest explorer of the past twenty years."  When he wasn't in a jungle, Robin was turning his hand to helping others. He is President and co-founder of Survival International, a charity which helps tribal peoples defend their lives, protect their lands and determine their own futures.
While his exploits as an explorer and social reformer are important, Robin’s contribution to equestrian travel is unique. Along with his wife, Louella, Robin is a Founding Member of the Guild. Together the Hanbury-Tenisons made equestrian journeys in Albania, China, France, New Zealand and Spain. Robin recounted their equestrian adventures in an excellent series of books published by the Long Riders’ Guild Press. The Hanbury-Tenisons first journey occurred in 1984, when they rode two Camargue horses across France. To mark his 80th birthday, Robin and Louella rode across Scotland through the Great Glen from Inverness to Fort William.

England Opens Equestrian Trail for Wheelchair Travellers

In 2007 Simon Mulholland (left) surprised the equestrian world when he revealed his remarkable “Saddle Chariot.” The light-weight chariot was easily pulled by a small pony but proved its strength when the British inventor used it to travel the length of Hadrian’s Wall. Simon believed the chariot presented a potential employment for the many ponies in Great Britain.
The chariot’s creator also realized there was another equally exciting potential connected to his original concept. Further experimentation saw the development of the Ibex chariot. This revolutionary equestrian transport allowed people in wheelchairs to venture into the outdoors.
What began as an act of individual liberation has since swelled into an exciting new type of equestrian travel. Working with Simon, the South Downs Way National Park has become the first park in Great Britain to construct an equestrian trail that can be travelled by people in wheelchairs. The 100 mile long trail, which stretches from Winchester to Beachy Head, is the first equestrian trail of its kind in the world that is fully wheelchair accessible.
“It’s very exciting to be able to see people able to enjoy everything that makes the South Downs special for the first time,” says Simon. “People will be able to turn up, have a go and leave again without leaving any trace on the protected landscape. They don’t even have to get out of their wheelchairs, which some people just aren’t able to do. This is just the start of my aim to make the whole UK countryside inclusive and accessible to all.”

Exciting Equestrian Trail Crosses Canadian Rockies

In an increasingly urbanized environment, the development of a national equestrian trail is of international importance; especially when the trail takes Long Riders through some of the world’s most beautiful mountains.
It took many years of dedicated work for Canada’s Great Divide Trail (GDT) to become a reality. The Girl Guides of Canada first proposed the idea of such a trail in 1966. Part of the route, which closely follows the Great Divide between British Columbia and Alberta, was hiked by University of Calgary students in 1974. In the intervening years the GDT, which passes through five National Parks, four wilderness areas and five forest districts, developed into a 1,200 kilometre (745 miles) long trail that begins in Waterton Lakes National Park at the Canada-US border (where it connects with the Continental Divide Trail) and ends in Kakwa Provincial Park north of Jasper National Park.
With the creation of this new Canadian equestrian trail, it is possible for a Long Rider to begin a journey at the Mexican border, cross the USA via the CDT – and then continue north along the GDT. That would create a combined equestrian journey totalling 6,063 kilometres (3,700 miles) of wilderness riding.
In response to the Guild’s request for information, Brad Vaillancourt, President of the Great Divide Trail Association, wrote, “Much of the Great Divide Trail (approx 50% or 600 km) is designed for both hiking and equestrian use, but some sections of the GDT Hiking Route are not passable to horses due to incompatible terrain or restrictions imposed by the National Parks, hence the development of the Great Divide Alternate Horse Route.”
The Great Divide Alternate Horse Route follows the hiking trail where possible and deviates where horses cannot travel, to create a 1063 kilometre (660 miles) contiguous equestrian route. The map (right) shows the route intended for equestrian travellers. Yet Brad warned that no Long Riders have explored the GDT yet.
“As this route was recently developed, to my knowledge no one has ridden the entire route in a single trip, and because of this, logistical details such as grazing areas and campgrounds have yet to be completely figured out.  The one or two week sections of trail north of Waterton and north of Jasper are the most commonly ridden sections of the GDT.”
The official GDT website does not yet contain any equestrian travel information. However the GDTA works closely with the Southern Alberta Trail Riders Association and the Back Country Horsemen of British Columbia. Both groups actively ride sections of the GDT every year and are willing to share their wealth of horse-related information.
July to September are considered the best months to ride along the trail in the Canadian Rockies. Long Riders should remember that fallen trees will always be a challenge on a long-distance trail but conditions are often better later in the season. The GDT definitely passes through bear and moose territory so equestrian users should be prepared to travel safely in those areas.
Brad wrote, “The Alternate Horse Route is new and needs to be truth-tested by equestrian users.” But he offered this encouraging advice.
“If the Long Riders’ Guild is interested in exploring the Great Divide Alternate Horse Route and perhaps being the first to ride its entire length, let me know and we can assist you with trip-planning. Feel free to send any additional questions regarding the GDT to this email address and we will do our best to respond. greatdividetrail@gmail.com “

Hoofprints Across Patagonia Trail

Long Rider Environmental Champion Passes Away

Across Russia on a Cossack Stallion

A new book recounts how Basha O’Reilly, one of the Founders of the Long Riders’ Guild, made a 2,500 mile journey from Russia to England.
“Bandits and Bureaucrats” unfolds in 1995 when a swirling political landscape allowed the author to travel through a recently off-limits country. What she found was a nation in unexpected transition. Emerging from decades of brutal governance, for a brief moment in time Russia’s rules were no longer enforced and a rare opportunity existed to cross the secretive nation on horseback.
The result is a remarkable story of a woman’s transformation and the magnificent Cossack stallion that went on to become the symbol of the international Long Riders' Guild.

Riding in the Hoofprints of Jan Žižka

Long Riders on the Pacific Crest Trail

One of the most popular, but challenging, equestrian journeys is along the 2,663 mile long Pacific Crest Trail which runs from the Mexican to the Canadian borders.
Long Rider Ed Anderson was the lore master whose article, Riding the Pacific Crest Trail Safely, pioneered the collection of valuable information about this mountainous journey. Since Ed’s death Long Riders have lacked advice on how to make this difficult ride.
Gillian Larson (right) is a new Member of the Guild who recently rode her mare, Shyla, from the southern terminus of the PCT all the way to Canada.
She wrote, “The PCT is a well documented trail for hikers with hundreds of books and blogs and websites providing information pertinent to a backpacker. There is no such information for a horseback rider and many attempted rides of the PCT have ended due to rider ignorance of equestrian specific conditions or obstacles on the trail. A book for equestrians on the logistics of riding the PCT is a much needed resource and thus I have decided to ride the PCT again with the goal of documenting all the horse-related obstacles, camping sites, horse facilities, and feed stores.”
The Guild is supporting Gillian’s literary and equestrian efforts. Meanwhile the knowledgeable Long Rider has offered to mentor those seeking advice on how to make this difficult ride. For further information, please contact the Guild.

Long Rider Legend Encourages Young Traveller

“A Transformation Takes Place During a Long Ride”

An article in Britain’s Your Horse magazine (right) describes Canadian Long Rider Bonnie Folkins' journeys across Mongolia and Kazakhstan.
“I took profound inspiration from the animals and the astonishing landscape; both of which contributed to a spiritual awakening. Unless you’ve continuously ridden a horse for weeks or months, there’s no way to relate to the transformation that takes place in the saddle during a long ride.”

Across Australia on Horseback

Aimé Tschiffely Tee-shirt

Over the mountains and across the pampas

Trail of Dreams Funds Medical Breakthrough

A new book recounts “a big story about a big country and big-hearted people and their horses.”  The 5,654 kilometre (3,513 mile) journey, which stretched from Darwin, Northern Territory to Cockle Creek Bay Tasmania, was done by Danny Phegan, Colin Mitchell and Ian James. Known as “Campfires Against Cancer,” the equestrian travel campaign raised more than half a million dollars for medical research. Danny Phegan, who wrote the book and organized the ride, explained that “research funding has lead to development of a drug fighting brain tumours in clinical trials in Melbourne.”
Dr. Andrew Penman, an Australian cancer scientist, noted, “Danny and his friends are the perfect rebuke to those who doubt the power of individuals to change things.”

From the Arctic Circle to the Tropical Jungle

The Tragedy of the Hollywood Long Rider

Long Rider Routes

The Guild now archives the details of a growing collection of Long Rider Routes. This unique repository contains historical details and maps for more than fifty equestrian journeys, which took place between 1414 and 2015.
The first of these routes was “Misty’s Long Ride.” It title was bestowed by American Long Rider Howard Wooldridge, who rode his Pinto mare “ocean to ocean” across the United States in 2002. In keeping with that tradition, whenever possible, other routes also bear the name of the Road Horse who accomplished the journey.

It’s About Respect