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Western Horseman
Interview |
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On June, Bill Inman saddled up his gelding, Blackie, and headed down the road. Months later, the Lebanon, Oregon, resident is still miles and states down the trail, still riding as part of a project he calls Uncovering America. Riding upwards of 100 miles per week, Inman plans on reaching his final destination, North Carolina, later this fall. Along the way, Inman and his film crew are taking time to document the small-town stories of people he encounters en route.
Q What motivated you to make this trip?
A The need to show the real image of America, the one that shows positive and good things that make up our country. This seems to be overlooked by the major media.
Q Before this trip, what was the longest ride you had completed?
A Growing up in a ranching enterprise that had holdings in Florida, Texas and Costa Rica, I frequently spent days on a horse. More recently, I gathered cattle in rural Mexico. I've ridden long distances as a wild-horse project inspector for BLM [Bureau of Land Management] gathers in Tonopah, Nevada. The district I covered consisted of 6.5 million acres. I've never attempted a ride like this one.
Q How did you and your mount prepare?
A We took short trips, up to 20 miles. We tried to include different scenarios to slowly introduce my horse to traffic, various topography, soil types, dogs, streets and, of course, weather. A really good test for Blackie came when we began involving him in parades.
Q What has been your biggest challenge to date and why?
A Dealing with the weather, topography and soil types, and going up and down hills can be very challenging. When lava rock is the major component in the area, it's also very tough. When I'm riding along the highway shoulder, I watch for badger-, gopher- or ground-squirrel holes, and debris like nails, bottles and barbed wire; any of these could be devastating. The financial aspect can be quite a challenge, as well.
Q As you trek through America's small towns and get to know the folks there, are you finding a common theme unites them?
A The people I've met have a general love of the land, community and their way of life. They all seem to agree that America is portrayed in a negative way. There are more good things happening than bad, but they're often overlooked.
Q What plans do you have after the journey and the documentary have been completed?
A If all goes well, my next ride will be from the southern tip of the Florida Keys all the way to Maine.
This interview appears courtesy of Western Horseman and appears in their October 2007 edition.
Click here to go to Bill's page on our website.
Click here to go to Western Horseman's website.
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