The moment I returned from Barretos I began working on getting my mares into Uruguay. I knew it would be a challenge from my experiences on the last journey from Canada to Brazil, but I had no idea how bad it would actually be.
Prior to embarking on my Long Ride from Canada to Brazil, I spent months doing research and speaking to CuChullaine O’Reilly, the founder of the Long Riders Guild. Having spent more than thirty years studying equestrian travel techniques on every continent and completing Long Rides across Pakistan, he is the best mentor a would-be Long Rider could ever ask for.
“Borders and traffic will be your biggest obstacles,” O’Reilly wrote to me in an email early on during our talks.
When I was stopped at the Panamanian border during that journey, his words hit home like a punch to the face. The months of battle to get the horses into South America from Costa Rica that ensued almost killed me. I fought with all of my might to finish the journey with Frenchie, Bruiser and Dude. In the end I had to raise $ 30 000 American Dollars and fly them into Peru.
Alongside Thiago Lima, my host in Santana do Livramento, who has imported horses into Uruguay from Brasil prior, I spent two weeks trying to find a way to get my mares into the country. To do it legally was almost impossible. To begin it used to cost at least $2 000 American Dollars per mare in importation taxes, plus exam costs and vet bills and a 60 day quarantine period. But because of the glanders epidemic Brazil has faced in the last few years, Uruguay has made it even harder for Brazilian horses to enter the country. The highly contagious and incurable disease has seen 623 horses put down between 2013 and 2015, according to the ministry of agriculture.
To do it illegally was also an option a few years ago, but because of the glanders epidemic, it was a big no-no.
“They will sacrifice your mares if they catch you in Uruguay illegally,” Thiago warned me while we discussed my options.
After almost ripping my hair out speaking to Uruguayan politicians, the ministry of agriculture and other officials, it became evident I would not be able to continue the journey with Life and Doll. My girls. My family. My beautiful mares.
The moment the thought finally set in, I began to cry like a child. My mares were fit, strong, healthy. They journeyed more than 2000 kms with me. And an imaginary line would stop them from continuing on. It broke my heart.
In a few weeks I became a very sad, horseless Long Rider – I was useless.
And to add to my problems, 2 days before picking up my friend Mark Maw from the airport, he sent me a message saying he would no longer be returning. I lost my support driver as well.
“How will I continue on,” I thought to myself.
