Just wanted to share our visitors this week....

[Debbie]

Next to our ponies, these guys will all look anorexic, but I assure you, they're all well cared for and sound as can be. Doc is a long distance rider in his 70s I think (Doc forgive me mightily if you're younger!). He travels all across the US riding and packing with his 3 horses. Each day he rotates his riding horse, one carries a spare riding outfit and the third carries the panniers with Doc's worldy possessions. As he says, "If it can't fit in those two boxes, it ain't worth having."

They'd travelled 25 miles up the coast when they stopped in on Wed. I immediately opened the paddock gates behind the barn and let them have a drink and fetched Eldon. We're still getting settled, so we're not set up for overnight guests. Thankfully we were able to find a nice place to bed Doc down for the night and we turned his three horses into a small grass spot so they could get some greenery overnight.

Come morning they were refreshed and ready to go!!!



His oldest horse used to be a stallion, and he's got some fine Tennessee Walker blood in him ~ and I do mean like old time WOW, even I don't know much about Walkers and those are respected lines Chief Free Spirit is wearing the saddle with the red rag closest to the camera. Doc told me he's got 6 gaits and I'd believe it.

The other two are his son, the bay, Let There Be Justice, or Justice for short and his daughter out of an Appy mare named Sweet Charity. Doc called her Baby Girl as much as he called her Charity and you could tell there was a very strong bond between all of them. Anytime Doc wandered off, the three would collect at the fenceline to watch him.

Doc getting his saddlebags ready. My mare Tempest is way in the background to the left.  All of mine looked like pigs next to his.  Of course, I'd look pretty porky next to a long distance runner, so I'm not going to point fingers


Doc says it takes at least an hour each morning to get them all saddled and prepped. The process can't be rushed.


Justice, Charity, Doc and Chief Free Spirit


Headed out for their next adventure of the day.  Happy trails to you, and I hope you enjoyed the pics

[Fi]

wow! wouldn't I just love to be able to hit the trails like that and wander wherever and find a bed and grazing for the night. True free spirits. I don't think you could do it over here in the UK any more, even if I had the nerve to try it.

[newbie]

Wow, how cool is he and his herd! What an amazing way of life.

[zeldalithgow]

Oh wow fantastic story and pics, what a man. How does he live ie money wise tho.

[valerie n scout]

wow thats Richys dream x

[harveydales]

what a wonderful way of life. Thanks for sharing.

[carolinec]

Wow! What an amazing guy, I bet he has all sorts of wonderful tales to tell.

[dalesnfellfan]

Wow, what lovely photos, always had a dream of doing something like that, I guess it takes a special type of person to actually do it, what a lovely way of life but I expect the reality also has some problems especially in winter.

[Debbie]

Doc seems to go where the weather will be the kindest for him and his horses, so that dictates which way he points his compass. For instance, it was in the 90*s F in the Valley, but over here on the coast, we were only at 70*, so much cooler for horse n rider. During the winter months, they point towards the desert states or Florida to avoid the snows.

Doc seems to have routes that he's travelled for years peppered with friends who take him in and can give him a place to stay for the night for him and his horses, but there are plenty of other nights where he sleeps under the stars. The nice thing is that he says every 5 miles, he gives them a break so they can eat the grass along the route.

He says there's only 250 truly long distance riders left in the US. He didn't have much, but as we talked, it was clear he could turn a hand to just about anything with a horse. In the past he'd foxhunted over in Virginia with his stallion and did a lot of training and horse trading, did his fair share of correcting problem horses (most of which he said was a horse that wasn't suited for the owner) and so on. He was a real character, and I'm glad we got to meet him

[benjismum]

wow wonderful way of life, I think that sort of carefree existence appeals to many of us - me certainly, just fancy spending all day every day with your horses and seeing the country - utterly fab!

[jaycee]

What an interesting story and fab pics, thanks.

[Deleted]

That is pretty cool.......thanks for posting. I would love to meet someone like that - in this day and age it would be a real honour....does anyone do long distance here on the UK with a Dales out of interest?