Have you ever wanted to take your horse and just ride off into the sunset? I know I have. I’ve always loved the lore of the West, the icon of the cowboy, and the romance of the open range. I’ve been riding horses since I was a kid. I dabbled in different disciplines and competed briefly. Eventually I realized I just wanted to trail ride, but a part of me has always wished I could just keep going. That desire to head out in the unknown with my trusty steed is what led to the greatest equestrian adventure of my life.
In August 2016, my adopted mustang Sage, my dog Bella, and I hit the trail. Over 74 days we traveled more than 1,100 miles around northern Nevada, riding backcountry trails and tent camping each night. This adventure didn’t happen overnight. Our journey actually began back in 2010 when I discovered the Long Riders’ Guild - an international association of equestrian explorers. I was instantly enamored with the stories of their members spending years on the trail crossing continents. Unlike endurance riding, long riding isn’t competitive or about speed. It’s about the journey itself. Once I discovered this group of equestrians, my own dream of riding off into the sunset actually seemed possible. The idea took root and I set to work to make it happen.
I adopted Sage, a formerly wild horse, in 2011. We trained together non-stop and set out in 2013 on a nearly 500 mile ride across Nevada. That month-long journey was a wake-up call of sorts; it certainly shattered my romantic notions about riding off into the sunset. Nevada is tough country and it is not easy to live on the trail. I learned that a long distance ride is physically and mentally challenging, but there’s also an incredible feeling when you get through those challenges. I was hooked, and shortly after returning home I began to imagine an even longer journey.
It took three years of planning before I felt ready to set out again. There are a lot of logistics to consider for a long ride. I poured over maps to create a route, scouted trails in advance, and then tweaked the route again. Nevada’s abundance of public land is a trail rider’s dream. No permits or permission required; simply pick a trail and go. I also spent a lot of time testing out riding and camping gear, trying to find essentials that were tough but lightweight. I had to cache all the feed along the route in advance, and make arrangements for the job and house I was leaving behind. Finally, all that was left to do was ride.
The Trail is Calling
By Samantha Szesciorka
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a trail rider’s dream. No permits or permission required; simply pick a trail and go. I also spent a lot of time testing out riding and camping gear, trying to find essentials that were tough but lightweight. I had to cache all the feed along the route in advance, and make arrangements for the job and house I was leaving behind. Finally, all that was left to do was ride.
Sage, Bella, and I began our second trek from the geographic center of Nevada. For nearly three months our routine was generally the same: awake before dawn, feed Sage and eat breakfast, tack up and hit the trail. Sage and I would ride all day and then rendezvous with Ryan (my husband and support person) in the evening. We’d eat dinner and tent camp each night, get up, and do it all again the next day. Sage and I averaged about 20 miles a day, but were flexible with the weather and terrain. We traveled six days in a row and then rested for one or two days.
Left to right: Ryan, Sage, Samantha and Bella