A few years ago, my father sent me the link to a website that held the story of our beloved hero, Aime Tschiffely, the most famous Long Rider of all time. He googled “Man rides from Buenos Aires to America” one night and the Long Riders Guild (LRG) link was the first one to come up. After reading through the story he loved so much, he explored the website and found that there were other Long Riders just like Tschiffely all over the globe. Most importantly, he found out that there were still people jumping into the saddle to blaze a trail into the unknown. This excited him very much.
I remember reading his email and clicking on the link. I read Tschiffely’s page and surfed the site. I was as amazed as my father that there were still men and women making Long Rides out there.
When I started seriously thinking about going on my own ride last year, I revisited the website. It slowly became my bible. I read about the many Long Riders who are members of the Guild and their journeys. I read all the current expeditions. I read the equipment page. I read it all.
After a few weeks studying the site, I mustered the courage to email the Guild’s founder, CuChullaine O’Reilly. I was very scared! The Long Rider and journalist is the most knowledgable human being when it comes to the subject. “CuChullaine has spent thirty years studying equestrian travel techniques on every continent. He led the Karakorum Equestrian Expedition through Pakistan and was thereafter made a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society,” as stated on the LRG website.
The man is a living legend. In the email I asked him what three books he would advise one to read on Long Riding. He replied with three titles and with a question, “Why do you ask?”
That’s when I notified him of my plans to ride from Canada to Brazil. I was hesitant because I had never done this before, yet was about to attempt one of the hardest rides to date. What if he laughed at me or thought I was just plain stupid…
Luckily, he didn’t! From that point on CuChullaine took me under his wing and put me in contact with some extraordinary folks from around the globe.
This is the beauty of the LRG. With members in 45 countries, the organization breaks down borders. It is not about competing or winning ribbons, but about helping one another explore this extraordinary world horseback. Long Riders don’t make tons of money nor do they become celebrities! But what they gain is much greater – a wealth of knowledge about the places you pass through and an abundance of new friends! The trail also teaches much about oneself. The rider at the end of a journey is no longer the person who started the trip.
These are all things I learned from phone conversations and emails with Long Riders like Englishwoman Basha O’Reilly, the Canadian Stan Walchuk, the American Bernice Ende, the Brazilian Pedro Luis de Aguiar, and the German Gunter Wamser. They are an international team of Long Riders who have helped me get to where I am today!
So how does one become a part of the LRG you may be wondering?
In order to become a member of the LRG, one has to ride at least 1000 consecutive miles! There are other prerequisites like putting your horses’ health above yours, acknowledging the help of the LRG, and a willingness to help other would-be Long Riders after your trip, etc.
Well, ladies and gentleman, as of this week I have officially ridden more than 1000 miles on horseback!!! Woohooooo making me eligible to become a member for the LRG. This is one of the greatest accomplishments of my life! I get to be in a club with Aime Tcshiffely, Oscar Wilde, Marco Polo and Darwin… Now that’s cool 🙂
Due to the importance of my journey, the LRG has entrusted me with their official flag. Only a few riders have the honor of carrying it, and I am so thankful for being one of them.
I would not be in Craig, Colorado, today, more than 1,000 miles from Calgary, Alberta, if it wasn’t for the LRG! They helped me obtain the best pack-saddle in the world, they offered me an abundance of knowledge, and most importantly, they made me feel like I could actually pull this off.
Only 9 000 miles to go! Can’t wait for the adventures it will bring.
