Riding across the USA

So I have this crazy goal that in 2012 to ride from coast to coast across the united states starting in Maine, and ending in California. Yea it's 3 year's away, but I know that if I actually want to do this (I'll be 18 and my horse will be 12) I need to start planning this trip NOW...haha.

Anyways I started a blog on it (and I put a link on the blog to here):

Giving 'roadtrip' a whole new meaning

Just really it's the planning process updates on how things are going, I'm not going to get more serious (as in hardcore planning serious, like where my horse is going to stay along the way, fairrer, vet and chiropractor serious) until probably 2011-very early 2012. But I am going to be doing alot of how the heck I am getting from one coast to the other planning in the next year or two!


Right now it seems so impossiable and far off but I am determined that this can be done (even if it will take a while!), and that Winnie will be fully capable of making a 3000 mile + trip!


I would be more than appreciative if some endurance/long distance trail riders could throw some tips out there for me, getting in shape, conditioning, actually riding etc. I'm not planning on trying to do all 3000 miles at once when the time comes. There's going to be some break's, I wouldn't be riding all 7 day's a week and I would have no intention of even trying this is I at the time thought my horse could not handle it for whatever reason.


So we'll see where this idea takes me (litterly...haha)

Check out Bernice
Long Rider Bernice Ende is riding her horse 5,000 miles around the western United States

What an awesome person! Thanks for posting the link Painted Horse.

Skylark, maybe for your first 'long' ride, you should contact local riding/endurance clubs and try and organize week long events for each club. Ride out with one trail group as you cross the state of Maine, then link up with the next group and ride for a week with them and so on. That way you have plenty of support along the way. You could link with each group as you go. One big long trail ride party!

Amy

Also check out the Long Riders Guild
The Long Riders' Guild

Another link. Not sure if all the info is still there, but at one point there were several videos. This guy made a real interesting trip.

Uncovering America by Horseback | Sometimes people are going so fast in pursuit of happiness, that often times they pass it right by.

My husband's family owns a ranch in Dallas and their ranch foreman rode his horse from Wisconsin to Texas after his family was killed in a car wreck. He is the kindest man and is very quiet. Very sad story, but he says that ride really helped him from going crazy from grief.

On a more positive note, if you end up in San Diego, CA I have a spare room and a great recommendation for a horse motel! :)

This sounds great! I actually plan on riding across Canada someday. Likely further off then 3 yrs though. I'll be sure to follow your blog.

Thanks for all the links!

Wow that sounds awesome!!!! That would be so much fun!! Good luck with you planning!

I met a man that rode a horse from Alabama to Pennsylvania...His name was Jerry...er...can't remember his last name because we called him Mr. Jerry. He stayed in our area for a couple weeks while he was working with a mustang someone had given him to use as a pack horse. It was cool because it was my senior year (I only had to go half days that year) in high school...so after school I would go help Mr. Jerry and get to ride the horse he rode...which was his daughters barrel horse.