HEAD FOR THE TRAILS! |
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On the road with the Nevada Discovery Ride:
In 2013, my adopted mustang Sage and I set out on an amazing adventure. Over the course of a month, we journeyed nearly 500 miles across central Nevada. We purposely avoided civilization, opting to travel backcountry roads and trails instead. During the day we battled wild terrain and wild weather, and by night we relaxed in our campsite under the stars. By the time Sage and I made it home, I was longing for a hot shower and a soft bed. But, the lure of the trail is strong and soon I found myself pining to get back out there! This fall, Sage and I will head out for our next adventure - a 1,100 mile ride around northern Nevada, which should take us about two and a half months to complete.
What Sage and I are doing is called long riding. Unlike endurance riding, long riding is not an organized sport. It is not competitive and it is not timed. Long riding is simply an equestrian expedition and it can take many forms. Long riders have trekked from Beijing to London, ocean to ocean across the United States, from Canada to Brazil, from Tunisia to South Africa. For a certain type of person, there is something appealing about the idea of stepping away from our fast-paced modern society, choosing instead to spend months or years on the trail channeling the pioneers. Long riding is undergoing a huge surge in popularity right now, no doubt in part due to the wide release and success of the documentary film Unbranded, which tells the story of four men from Texas and their long ride from Mexico to Canada using adopted mustangs. Since Unbranded was released I have received countless emails from people who are eager to undertake their own long ride and want advice. I love hearing people’s plans and sharing my experiences with them! I believe the goal of every long rider should be to undertake their journey as safely as possible. To that end, here are the six most common tips I give to would-be long riders: 
1 - SLOW DOWN
One of the biggest things that surprises people is that I spent nearly three years planning and preparing before I felt ready to set out on my first ride in 2013. I was excited to go as soon as the idea struck, but I was smart enough to know that there was a lot I didn’t know! If I had jumped on my horse and headed out without properly planning, one or both of us would have gotten hurt or we would have been forced to quit the ride early on. Take the time to plan your long ride before you head out - you’ll be glad you did when you and your horse finish safely and soundly. 
3- RIDE, RIDE, RIDE
Eight months after I adopted Sage, I rode him in the Nevada Day Parade in Carson City. That parade attracts more than 35,000 spectators each year! I was petrified while we rode through the busy street along with marching bands, flag teams, floats, hot air balloons, fire trucks, and more. But, it was good exposure for Sage. On a long ride, you’re going to encounter all sorts of extreme terrain and environments. You don’t necessarily need to ride in a parade, but your horse should be as calm on a pack trail as he is next to a busy road. Ride in as many varied environments as possible so that your horse is prepared for all the things you may encounter on a long ride. 
5 - HAVE REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
Even with the best planning and preparation, you’ll still encounter the unexpected on a long ride. During my 2013 ride I got lost, dealt with an occasionally cranky horse, suffered hurt knees and a hurt back, experienced dust storms, extreme heat, rainstorms, insects, snakes, exhaustion, semi trucks going by at 70 miles an hour, boredom, target shooters, steep and difficult terrain, flat and monotonous terrain, bad water, no showers, bad campsites, wild horses attacking, domestic horses attacking, ornery bulls, locked gates, lost gear, broken gear, and so on! Just about every single day will bring a new challenge, but those challenges should be expected and embraced. They are part of the adventure and you’ll feel good when you get through them! 
You can learn more by visiting my website:
NevadaDiscoveryRide.com |
2 - CHOOSE YOUR PARTNER WISELY
I have a wonderful equine partner for long rides. Sage, my adopted mustang, is calm, steady, and he absolutely loves the trail. But, I intentionally adopted Sage to train to go with me on my first long ride. I also have an APHA gelding. When I started planning my first ride, it became very apparent that my spooky, hot-headed, barn sour Paint with awful confirmation, was not the right horse for the challenging journey that laid ahead. I am so glad I came to that realization and found the right horse. Be brutally honest with yourself about your horse’s capabilities and limitations. There’s nothing wrong with admitting he’s not the right one for your long ride - find the one who is! 
4 - ROUTE & SCOUT
One of the most important logistical things on a long ride is your route! Study as many maps as possible as you plan your journey. I like to start with a road atlas and then refine my route with topographic maps and satellite maps. But, maps don’t tell the whole story of a place. Whenever possible, I like to scout questionable sections in person before I ride them. For example, the route for my next ride requires that I cross an interstate highway. On the maps, it looks like it would be doable but when I scouted that section in person I found the maps were wrong. It’s best to know that in advance so that I can alter my route now instead of trying to do so during the ride. 
6 - LEARN FROM OTHERS
The Long Riders’ Guild is the world’s only international association of equestrian explorers. Their members hail from 45 different countries every major equestrian explorer alive today belongs to the LRG. Their website is a wealth of knowledge for the would-be long rider, with information on tack, feed, international border crossings, medical care, and more. The LRG will also connect you with other knowledgeable long riders for advice if you reach out to them. Visit the Long Riders Guild to get started. In addition, contact the local horse groups and land management agencies in the areas you are planning to ride through. They may be able to offer you useful advice on trail conditions, water sources, campsites, etc. When I was preparing for my first long ride, it often felt like a full-time job. But, it paid off in the end. Sage and I not only completed our journey, but we came out healthy, happy, and ready to hit the trail again! Visit our website - www.NevadaDiscoveryRide.com - for information on our next adventure. |
Check back in the coming months to follow Samantha and Sage as they prepare
for and undertake their next long ride together beginning in August 2016.
for and undertake their next long ride together beginning in August 2016.
NOTE: Prints and notecards of the Mary A. Lainhart photographs above (Prairie Road with Fence, lower left, and Prairie Intersection, lower right) can be purchased at the Wild Heart Mustangs™ Shop.
In this video is another long rider, Ray Knell. Ray took his horse and string along the Continental Divide from Colorado to Montana. Ray's destination was Heroes and Horses. Read more about Heroes and Horses on our Riding Freedom's Trail page in the April Issue.
Want to saddle up and head out for an adventure, but not sure where to go?
We love to ride and experience new places. Sometimes close to home for a nice relaxing day...sometimes for vacation to explore some place new. But where to go? This is not always easy to answer. Some people are fortunate to have a network of horse friends who can recommend a place; other people may not have that fortune. It is not always easy packing up your equine and heading for the hills, not knowing if there are facilities to accommodate you and your equine to your liking. You do not always know the skill level of riding that is necessary when you get their either. Throwing your bedroll on the back of your saddle and grabbing your saddle bags, should be fun and enjoyable!
Wild Heart Mustangs™ wants YOU, the reader, to write in with places you have been and can recommend to other people who love to trail ride! CONTACT US and send photos of places you love to share with your horse, mule or donkey.
Wild Heart Mustangs™ wants YOU, the reader, to write in with places you have been and can recommend to other people who love to trail ride! CONTACT US and send photos of places you love to share with your horse, mule or donkey.
