The Long Riders' Guild

Exploration Allies Plan Interplanetary Journey – Guild Flag to Accompany Mission to Mars

 

The Long Riders’ Guild is accustomed to courage because equestrian travel history is filled with examples of horses and humans who undertook extraordinary journeys. For example, in 1908 Sir Ernest Shackleton nearly reached the South Pole with the help of his Manchurian horse, Socks.

 

Yet possessing bravery is no protection against envy, cynicism and cowardice. Equestrian explorers have been routinely denounced prior to departure. Though Swiss Long Rider Aimé Tschiffely is a revered hero today, when he began his ride from Buenos Aires to New York in 1925 he was taunted and ridiculed.

 

The morning he was scheduled to leave rain was falling and the roads leading out of Buenos Aires were already hock-deep in thick, sticky mud.  The reporters regarded the whole thing as a huge joke: "A lunatic proposing to travel overland to New York," - ran one story.

The solitary horseman later wrote, "Eventually there was only one thing to do: screw up my courage, burn all the bridges behind me, and start a new life, no matter whither it might lead. Convinced that he who has not lived dangerously has never tasted the salt of life, that day I decided to take the plunge."

 

That's what two "space explorers" are doing - tasting the salt of life.

 

Tom and Tina Sjogren are the adventurous rebels who climbed Mt. Everest, explored the oceans in a sailboat, travelled to both poles and founded Explorer’s Web, the planet’s premier source for exploration news.

 

But having looked down from Earth’s tallest mountain, the Sjogrens are now looking up to Mars. An extensive article details how they are building a two-person space vehicle capable of making the 34 million mile journey. Their intention is to explore the red planet and return to Earth with news of their discoveries.

 

Once again it is history that provides an example of an iconoclast who dared to challenge convention. In 1607 Henry Hudson attempted to find a northerly route to Asia when he set sail in a small ship with a crew of only eleven. Hudson’s attempt to reach China via a Northwest Passage was halted by impenetrable ice but his later explorations made him a legend.

 

The forthcoming Encyclopaedia of Equestrian Exploration contains nearly a thousand images, the last of which is entitled “Aime Tschiffely Rides to the Stars.” This image (top) symbolizes the possibility that horses and humans may one day travel together beyond earth’s gravity.

 

This planet is crammed with forgettable people who lack the passion and fearlessness to do one significant thing with their lives. Tom and Tina Sjogren aren’t like that. They’re the emotional offspring of Henry Hudson, Ernest Shackleton and Aimé Tschiffely. They dare to dream to ride beyond our planet.

 

That is why they have been named “Friends of the Guild” in honour of their courage and in recognition of their intergalactic vision.

 

It is one thing to publish a news article confirming their valour but it is something different to provide proof of the Guild’s tangible support.

 

Count Pompeii is the flying logo which adorns the Guild's flag and is seen along the spine of all the LRG books. New Zealand Long Rider Ian Robinson (right) is the first foreign Long Rider to ride through Siberia in 125 years. Because of the historical nature of that ride, Ian carried the Guild flag on that journey.

 

While we appreciate the fact that reducing weight is of essential importance on a mission to Mars, we offered the Siberian Guild flag to accompany the Sjogrens to Mars.

 

“We are deeply honoured to have the support of the world's most courageous horsemen. How can we not succeed? Let's show the kids a different world. Let's give them hope. We will bring the Guild flag and fly it on Mars,” Tina Sjogren (right) stated.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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