The New Deal
A couple weeks ago, my friend Kris (from Wisconsin) called to tell me her sister, Karin, is moving from Colorado to Wisconsin. Karin has a horse, Buck, and has offered me to ride him -from Colorado to Wisconsin. This is not riding coast to coast, but actually a great opportunity to learn traveling by horse. Bigger trips and projects can ensue. So now I am making plans to go this spring, mid April. Buck is a 5 or 6 year old gelding quarterhorse mix. We don't know exactly how old, he's been passed around a few times . Kris saw him recently and thinks he'll be good for the trip. Seems healthy and a good temperament. We'll find out for sure.Here he is:
I have been looking at saddles and am pretty sure I will get an Abetta endurance saddle. Also have been looking at routes to take like part of the American Discovery Trail . I have emailed back and forth with Matt Parker who rode from coast to coast using the American Discovery trail. He took the southern route through Kansas instead of going up through Nebraska. He reported that some of the trail is really not hospitable for horses , and that I should plan on going around bigger cities. I'm also in contact with some folks through the Long Riders Guild. The website is very helpful and it is the best to hear from people with a lot of horse travel experience.
I am hoping to borrow, acquire, or rent a pickup truck and trailer for 2 months. I could also imagine converting an old UPS truck too . In case the situation gets dicey, it would be nice to pack up the horse and get away or for camping at night or bad weather. My friend Chandi has volunteered to be a driver, at least for the first month. Since I'm not a seasoned horse traveler, I will opt for some support...
Of course I want to bring the photo and video equipment. Maybe somehow there is a balance of living nomadic in animal time in modern life? My fear is that traveling through America will just be a connect the dots of Walmarts, McDonalds and Starbucks...
Here is an old picture of Blazen I took when I was 13 that I just scanned on my new all-in-one printer!
I have been looking at saddles and am pretty sure I will get an Abetta endurance saddle. Also have been looking at routes to take like part of the American Discovery Trail . I have emailed back and forth with Matt Parker who rode from coast to coast using the American Discovery trail. He took the southern route through Kansas instead of going up through Nebraska. He reported that some of the trail is really not hospitable for horses , and that I should plan on going around bigger cities. I'm also in contact with some folks through the Long Riders Guild. The website is very helpful and it is the best to hear from people with a lot of horse travel experience.
I am hoping to borrow, acquire, or rent a pickup truck and trailer for 2 months. I could also imagine converting an old UPS truck too . In case the situation gets dicey, it would be nice to pack up the horse and get away or for camping at night or bad weather. My friend Chandi has volunteered to be a driver, at least for the first month. Since I'm not a seasoned horse traveler, I will opt for some support...
Of course I want to bring the photo and video equipment. Maybe somehow there is a balance of living nomadic in animal time in modern life? My fear is that traveling through America will just be a connect the dots of Walmarts, McDonalds and Starbucks...
Here is an old picture of Blazen I took when I was 13 that I just scanned on my new all-in-one printer!
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