| In days of old, it wasn't uncommon for someone to | | | | especially if going into remote areas. It is wise to |
| travel long distance on horseback, but with the | | | | carry basic first aid kit for you and your horse and to |
| creation of horseless carriages and personal wealth to | | | | inform someone of your route - do not stray |
| afford one, travelling this way had become a rarity. | | | | intentionally from it. Mobile phones do have large |
| The horse became a luxury possession and initially | | | | blackspots so take a whistle and emergency food |
| was the domain of the wealthy for recreational riding. | | | | and water. Include in your kit an emergency blanket |
| Nowadays this isn't the case. It has become a hobby | | | | which is a small tightly folded sheet like bacofoil and |
| and many horse owners are supporting their equine's | | | | can be bought from outdoor pursuit shops. There are |
| keep by doing more than one job. There are many | | | | a few low powered GPS type emergency beacons |
| equestrian activities, mostly to do with competition | | | | you can subscribe to, but there should be higher |
| but there is one which is growing in popularity outside | | | | powered ones (Personal Locator Beacons) legally |
| of the menages and cross country courses and that | | | | available on land towards the end of 2010 that are |
| is Long Distance Horse Riding. There has always been | | | | just purely a panic button and do just what they say |
| a small contingent riding this way, but since the | | | | on the package! Search and Rescue teams will be |
| coming of the internet it has become much easier. It | | | | able to find you by accurate GPS locating |
| is no-longer a hack (a distasteful word!) which was a | | | | co-ordinates. To take one with you is a matter of |
| ride out for a few hours to a day, but the serious | | | | personal choice. It goes without saying it is really |
| business of riding over days, weeks or years | | | | important that a rider is able to map read and use a |
| depending on what the rider wants to achieve. It is | | | | compass. (There are places you can go to learn this |
| non-competitive and the rider travels at their own | | | | skill by keying a search on the internet and finding |
| speed and is able to appreciate the area they are | | | | one nearby.) Paper maps will never become |
| travelling through. The horse/rider relationship most | | | | redundant with use of GPS units as there is always |
| definitely takes a change for the better and | | | | the possibility of a flat battery! |
| communication between them improves! | | | | Lastly feeding your horse. Most true Long Riders do |
| The internet is a fantastic tool to be able to plan | | | | not want to carry heavy feed with them. The |
| ahead for accommodation, routes, advice and | | | | exception could be with a pack horse in tow. During |
| anything else the rider wishes to organise leaving less | | | | spring, summer and autumn there is usually enough |
| to chance. It also has created another tourist | | | | herbage and water about for the horse to survive. |
| industry, accommodation providers specifically geared | | | | Some riders stop once every hour and some stop |
| to riders with their horses and also Horse Holiday | | | | for a good break, removing the saddle, midway |
| organising companies. | | | | through the day. If grass/herbage/water is scarce |
| True Long Distance Riders decide their route and | | | | then they take the opportunity when it's there. At |
| their daily travelling distance and will travel as light as | | | | the end of the day it's better for the horse to be |
| possible without back-up, sometimes taking a | | | | turned out on grass as it will prevent it getting stiff |
| pack-horse with them. Some camp and some B&B. It | | | | and will satisfy its natural instinct and graze freely. If |
| is surprising how little you need and how much you | | | | riding really long distances then it is advisable to have |
| can pack into a small space! Whereas the Horse | | | | rest days slotted in to the agenda. |
| Holiday-er will choose to take back-up in the form of | | | | To get started in Long Riding go to some of the |
| another person driving the vehicle and trailer to | | | | 'holidays with your horse' companies or search for |
| rendezvous points and carrying their luggage from | | | | Long Distance Riding. There are people out there that |
| one place to the next, often taking more than is | | | | can help get you going. Some will even ride with you. |
| necessary. | | | | Above all its not rocket science, just a lot of |
| One thing that is important is personal safety | | | | common sense! Happy riding! |