|
|
|
What is The Long Riders' Guild? |
What is The Long Riders' Guild and how does one become a Member?
The Long Riders' Guild is the world's first international association of equestrian explorers, and is an invitation-only organisation. It was formed in 1994 to represent men and women of all nations who have ridden more than 1,000 continuous miles on a single equestrian journey. Members currently reside in 45 countries. These Long Riders have collectively written more than a hundred books on equestrian travel and ridden on every continent except Antarctica. Thus the history, stories, legends, and knowledge stored on this website represent the largest repository of equestrian travel information assembled in human history!
The Guild was formed to put an end to the manners and methods of the last century. Its goal is to search together for collective freedom and individual wisdom. Our organization seeks to ensure that our lost inheritance of equestrian travel knowledge will be available for future generations to claim and enjoy.
Because the records of mankind are imperfect and the memory of humanity unstable, this century we ride in a new direction, searching not only for adventure but also knowledge.
The Long Riders' Guild marks the first time in modern equestrian history that like-minded men and women are combining efforts to preserve a hitherto unmarked heritage and provide an international forum to discuss our mutual love of horses and travel.
After an extraordinary international effort, we are happy to report that every major equestrian explorer alive today belongs to The Guild, that more than one hundred of these extraordinary men and women are also Fellows of the Royal Geographical Society and that The Guild website, at three thousand plus pages, and still growing, and having now been visited by more than three million people world-wide, is the repository of the largest collection of equestrian travel information in human history.
Additionally The Guild's publishing arm, Horse Travel Books publishes more than a hundred equestrian travel titles in eight languages, making it the world’s premier source of equestrian exploration wisdom. The Guild has now launched a project entitled The Long Riders' Guild Academic Foundation whose mission is to provide an academic forum where every type of horse-related knowledge is being investigated and published.
Sadly, these positive results have also encouraged the rise of unscrupulous behaviour by unethical individuals eager to exploit the allure of the horse, the confidence of the press and the trust of locals. Unethical equestrian travellers have contacted The Long Riders’ Guild for advice, urged us to share our list of international equestrian contacts and hard-won wisdom, then misused The Guild's trust by failing to acknowledge this support. Others have plundered The Guild’s website for information, contacted our Members for support without our knowledge and then announced unrealistic travel plans to reporters too naïve to question the basic tenets of the proposed fantasy journey. Some have falsified their travel records, broken the law, retained money donated to charities and abused or killed their horses. In a further effort to enrich themselves at the expense of the international equestrian travel community, many of the same people have gone on to write inaccurate books or to create misleading television shows.
Although many Long Riders have made excellent documentaries, the Guild will not invite anyone making a “reality TV show” to become a Member. For “reality” shows to work, they must have drama/conflict. In the case of equestrian travel it could result in horses being injured.
Participants in these shows often act in specific scripted ways, with the portrayal of events and speech manipulated and contrived to create an illusion of reality.
These participants are, therefore, entertainers, not explorers.
The Guild is the home to heroes - not hustlers!
It is The Guild’s job to reassure the public that they can trust the word of a Long Rider, those brave equestrian Argonauts who take to the saddle to make a genuine life-changing equestrian journey.
That is why none of the people described above are admitted into The Guild as Members. This also explains why we tell the press, “if they’re not in The Guild, there’s a reason.”
|
|
In the midst of space-age, high speed technology, a band of humans has slowed down the earth and sky sweeping past them by seeing the world from the back of a horse. They are called Long Riders. To learn more about an international meeting of some of these ardent equestrian travelers, adventurers, passionate explorers, and their documented journeys, click here. |
If we do not share one language, one disposition, one set of physical or financial conditions, or even the love of one breed of horse, our diversity accentuates not only our differences but the need for international equestrian unity.
Therefore though The Long Riders' Guild is by its very definition many things to many people, it holds the following laws of equestrian exploration and long distance travel to be inviolate.
As Long Riders we categorically believe equestrian travel has no frontiers, political or otherwise. It is the heritage of every nation. Though we individually originate in every imaginable country, we as a group represent no specific nation. We will not be simplified by categories into sex, creed, allegiance to one horse breed, or lines drawn on a map. We are comrades of the saddle whose agreed upon international language is "horse." We believe the only valid definition of a Long Rider should be courage in the face of danger, resolve in the presence of hardship, and continual compassion for our horses.
Further, we acknowledge the inherent bodily perils involved in equestrian travel to both horse and rider. Yet we in no way condone or sponsor any expedition that knowingly subjects its mounts to needless suffering. The Long Riders' Guild has no obsession with mileage. Though our members have set an assortment of world records during the course of their equestrian travels, we do not encourage a needless quest for kilometres, nor the lightning flash crossing of continents. We encourage our members instead to undertake a life-changing equestrian journey that explores not only the unknown portions of the world, but their own souls as well. Indeed, being a Long Rider is more than just a matter of miles. It is a question of honour, dignity and behaviour.
|
|
"Interdit aux Nomades"
("Nomads are Forbidden"). This recent photograph, taken in
France by Founding Member Gérard Barr |
Knowing that our collective equestrian past nearly disappeared through neglect, we are determined to record those deeds of saddle-borne bravery and mounted daring which mark the passing of Long Riders throughout world history. An attention to the deeds of all equestrian travellers, though they be widely different in time, race, language, surroundings, and history, is now under way. We are resolved thereby to provide a clear and accurate historical record of all equestrian travel accomplishments. Any claims to having been "the first" or "the longest" on horseback will henceforth be rigorously investigated, and verified, by a panel of qualified Tribal Elders composed of nine Senior Long Riders, residing on six continents.
Thus The Long Riders' Guild only recognizes these all-important qualifications for membership for would-be Long Riders:
 |
a continuous ride of at least 1,000 miles, the invitation being issued at the end of the journey |
|
a determination to put the horse’s welfare above their own, both during the ride and at its conclusion |
|
acknowledgement of the assistance of The Long Riders' Guild and a copy of the LRG logo on their website |
|
a willingness to describe themselves as Long Riders on their website and to the press |
|
at the conclusion of their journey, a readiness to share their individual experiences with would-be Long Riders |
|
It is The Guild’s job to reassure the public that they can trust the word of a Long Rider. Therefore, if the ride is for a charity, then the funds should be accounted for at the conclusion of the journey. |
|
The election of a new member to The Long Riders' Guild is conditional upon there being no legitimate objections from any current members. |
No member shall make any commitment on behalf of The Long Riders' Guild without prior permission, nor use the trademarked term "The Long Riders" except as a description of him or herself. No member shall bind or oblige The Long Riders' Guild or any of its members to any matters outside the affairs of The Long Riders' Guild.
The Long Riders’ Guild reserves the right to expel any member who:
|
Has acted in any manner inconsistent with the good faith observable between members |
|
Is found guilty of any conduct which injures the good name of the Guild |
|
Threatens to bring about the dissolution of the Guild |
|
Starts or joins any Internet forum or Facebook group as a representative of the LRG without the prior permission of the Guild |
|
Has falsified his or her equestrian achievements |
|
Is discovered to have intentionally neglected his or her horse(s) |
|
Is not willing to help other equestrian travellers by sharing information |
The Guild will no longer automatically acknowledge the forthcoming equestrian journey being made by any and all would-be horse travellers. The Guild will not recognize any traveller who has not made adequate preparations, is not properly equipped, has not worked to resolve border problems in advance, does not have a plan for the ethical disposal of their mounts, and is not willing to acknowledge The Guild's help, prior to, during and after the conclusion of the journey.
Also, because of the increasing risk posed by North American-based liars and cheats, who routinely use trucks and trailers to defraud the public about their mileage and accomplishments, The Guild will no longer participate in, condone or allow the use of horse trailers or back-up vehicles during an equestrian journey. If an emergency situation arises, then transportation can be arranged. But master equestrian travellers do not need to bring along a motorized comfort zone to accomplish their goal. A support truck may be negotiated in extreme countries and situations, notably Siberia, parts of Mongolia, portions of Africa and through the Darien Gap jungle. However, those are truly life-threatening journeys, and not to be confused with mounted rambles across the civilized American continent.
In conjunction with these decisions, one of the world's leading equestrian journalists shared this view.
"I hate to see Long Riders put in the position to make such decisions because of the actions and exploitations of others! But I wholeheartedly believe the move is correct, and because the LRG is ethical, upstanding, and willing to make the tough calls, it stands alone as a pillar of truth, trust, and tradition in the equine world."
The Long Riders' Guild reserves the right to refuse admission to any person without giving a reason.
Those people who have undertaken equestrian journeys as either publicity stunts or thinly disguised business trips will not be invited to join The Guild. Being a Long Rider is about having the courage to undertake a personal journey on horseback. Anyone accepting money to lead someone else on an equestrian journey is a business person - not a Long Rider. Anyone paying money to be led is a tourist on a trail ride - not a Long Rider.
However exclusion is not what The Long Riders' Guild is about. It exists to further equestrian exploration and travel worldwide. There must also be a place for people who are passionate about equestrian travel but for reasons of economy, responsibility, age, or geographical restrictions are unable to ride the mandatory 1,000 miles. For these special exceptions we offer the distinction of being an Associate Member. These cases will be decided individually based on an applicant's equestrian history.
In closing, we invite other voices to join us happily and proudly as we work collectively to preserve an ancient global equestrian inheritance for future generations.
If you, or anyone you know, qualifies as a Long Rider, please contact us
The Long Riders' Guild -
On the road .... again and again .... always!