HEAD FOR THE OPEN TRAILS! |
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Samantha is a former U.S. Army journalist and television news producer. She now works as a museum curator and historian. Samantha moved to Nevada in 2008 and quickly fell in the love with the state's abundance of public land and wild horses. She adopted a wild horse in 2011 and the two completed the 1st Nevada Discovery Ride in 2013, riding nearly 500 miles across central Nevada to encourage wild horse adoption. Samantha is a member of the Long Riders' Guild and vice president of the Natural Horsemanship Association of Northern Nevada. When she's not working, Samantha can be found exploring the Nevada backcountry.
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Wild Heart Mustangs™ is proud to be a media sponsor for Samantha Szesciorka's 2016 Nevada Discovery Ride! A list of Samantha's past guest articles are below. Samantha will continue to share her journey and stories from the trail with Wild Heart Mustangs™.
Other articles written by Samantha for Wild Heart Mustangs™:
March Issue - "On the Trail with the Nevada Discovery Ride" April Issue - "6 Tips for Long-Distance Riding" June Issue - "Wild Horses Find New Lives Behind Bars" |
6 THINGS THAT HAPPEN ON A LONG RIDE
by Samantha Szesciorka
Next month, my adopted mustang, Sage, and I will head out to begin a three-month ride around northern Nevada. In all we will cover a little more than 1,100 miles during our journey. Our route will take us through some of the most remote parts of Nevada. We’ll average about 20 miles a day and camp out every night as we make our way through the high desert terrain. Though all adventures are full of unknowns, there are a few things that I already know we can expect during our upcoming trek. In 2013, Sage and I rode nearly 500 miles across central Nevada over a month. On that ride, I learned a lot of lessons about life on the trail. Of course every long ride is different depending on where and how you are riding, but there are some universal experiences that all long riders share. Some of these lessons are more painful than others, but they’re all part of the adventure!
![]() You Find Out What You Are Made Of Everyone expects the physical aches and pains that come with riding eight to ten hours a day for months on end. But, most people don’t expect the mental strain. For all the highs of a long ride, there are just as many lows. How will you handle monotony and boredom, getting lost, losing gear, breaking gear, extreme weather, uncooperative horses, treacherous terrain, injuries, insects, not being able to shower, and other frustrations? And let’s not forget those physical challenges. Can you handle a full day of riding after an uncomfortable night’s sleep on the hard ground? What about sunburn and chapped lips? Blisters on your feet? You will push your mind and body to the absolute limits on a long ride. You will find your breaking point. And you will discover whether you have the grit to keep going or not. |
Samantha, Sage and Bella on their 2013 Nevada Discovery Ride. The mission for 2016 Nevada Disovery Ride remains the same: to encourage wild horse adoption.
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Sage and I are busy making last minute preparations for our upcoming ride. In next month’s issue, I’ll share with you some of the behind-the-scenes logistics of our 1,100 mile ride around Nevada. Until then, you can learn more at www.NevadaDiscoveryRide.com
Looking for people who love to trail ride...
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.