The Long Riders' Guild

Since we’ve started working with Bernice Ende, I’ve gained even more inspiration from and respect for long distance riders. After suggesting that Bernice call the Long Riders Guild to discuss membership, I began researching The Long Riders’ Guild and their mission.  The Guild is a fantastic organization, which strives to bring together and memorialize the greatest riders, horses and equestrian journeys of the past, present and future.

The Long Riders' Guild is an invitation-only international association of equestrian explorers, representing men and women of all nations who have ridden more than 1,000 continuous miles on a single equestrian journey. It was formed in 1994 by CuChullaine O’Reilly, and has since pioneered the study of equestrian travel research and methodology. Using a world wide network of historical and equestrian contacts, The Long Rider's Guild has documented nearly 300 equestrian trips, gathered vital information on more than 275 Long Riders, and confirmed more than 822,000 documented miles traveled in the saddle.

Members currently reside in at least 32 countries, with varied languages, backgrounds, creeds, origins and religions. They do however share true love and compassion for the horse and equestrian travel. These Long Riders have collectively written more than a hundred books on equestrian travel and ridden on every continent except Antarctica.

I’m always on the lookout for new products, and after long conversations and emails with Basha O’Reilly, one of the founding Long Riders, I’m very proud to offer several books from the Long Riders’ Guild Press.  Many of these historical books are on my personal reading list for this winter.  At some point the world has to slow down long enough for all of us to enjoy a good book by the fire! (doesn’t it?)

I’ve just begun reading the first book on the list, Ride the Wind, the Amazing True Story of the Abernathy Boys by Miles Abernathy. It may be a week or two, but I’ll add a book review to the blog just as soon as I finish.

If you’d like more information on the Long Rider’s Guild, please visit their website.  Whether you are Long Rider material or just aspire to be a better horseman, you’ll find a wealth of information.

Happy Trails!