What is The Long Riders' Guild?
The Long Riders' Guild is the world's first international association of equestrian explorers, and is an invitation-only organisation. It was formed in 1994 to represent men and women of all nations who have ridden more than 1,000 continuous miles on a single equestrian journey. Members currently reside in at least 32 countries. These Long Riders have collectively written more than a hundred books on equestrian travel and ridden on every continent except Antarctica. Thus the history, stories, legends, and knowledge stored on this website represent the largest repository of equestrian travel information assembled in human history!
Yet historically there has been no equestrian point of reference for such men and women. The nomads who once trod the earth scoffed at book learning and pyramid building. Consequently that staple of world knowledge, the accumulated equestrian travel experience of countless generations, now teeters on the edge of oblivion. During the darkest days of the 1950s fewer than a dozen people undertook an equestrian journey anywhere in the world.
In the later portion of the 20th century our numbers increased dramatically. However though more of us journeyed on horseback none of us were joined, none of us knew our tribe's history, or even the names of those champions who had ridden before our meek individual efforts. Names of legendary Long Riders like Peshkov and Beck were swept aside by an age addicted to electricity and obsessed with speed. Those of us left rode lost and alone in a wilderness of ignorance.
Thus the Long Riders' Guild was formed to put an end to the manners and methods of the last century. Its goal is to search together for collective freedom and individual wisdom. Our organization seeks to ensure that our lost inheritance of equestrian travel knowledge will be available for future generations to claim and enjoy.
Because the records of mankind are imperfect and the memory of humanity unstable, this century we ride in a new direction, searching not only for adventure but also knowledge.
The Long Riders' Guild marks the first time in modern equestrian history that like-minded men and women are combining efforts to preserve a hitherto unmarked heritage and provide an international forum to discuss our mutual love of horses and travel.
If we do not share one language, one disposition, one set of physical or financial conditions, or even the love of one breed of horse, our diversity accentuates not only our differences but the need for international equestrian unity.
Therefore though The Long Riders' Guild is by its very definition many things to many people it holds the following laws of equestrian exploration and long distance travel to be inviolate.
As Long Riders we categorically believe equestrian travel has no frontiers, political or otherwise. It is the heritage of every nation. Though we individually originate in every imaginable country, we as a group represent no specific nation. We will not be simplified by categories into sex, creed, allegiance to one horse breed, or lines drawn on a map. We are comrades of the saddle whose agreed upon international language is "horse." We believe the only valid definition of a Long Rider should be courage in the face of danger, resolve in the presence of hardship, and continual compassion for our horses.
Further, we acknowledge the inherent bodily perils involved in equestrian travel to both horse and rider. Yet we in no way condone or sponsor any expedition that knowingly subjects its mounts to needless suffering. The Long Riders' Guild has no obsession with mileage. Though our members have set an assortment of world records during the course of their equestrian travels, we do not encourage a needless quest for kilometers, nor the lightning flash crossing of continents. We encourage our members instead to undertake a life-changing equestrian journey that explores not only the unknown portions of the world, but their own souls as well.
Knowing that our collective equestrian past nearly disappeared through neglect, we are determined to record those deeds of saddle-borne bravery and mounted daring which mark the passing of Long Riders throughout world history. An attention to the deeds of all equestrian travelers, though they be widely different in time, race, language, surroundings, and history, is now under way. We are resolved thereby to provide a clear and accurate historical record of all equestrian travel accomplishments. Thus any claims to having been "the first" or "the longest" on horseback will henceforth be rigorously investigated, and verified, by a panel of qualified Equestrian Tribal Elders.
Thus The Long Riders' Guild recognizes only one all important qualification for membership, a continuous ride of at least 1,000 miles. The only exception will be those people who have undertaken equestrian journeys as either publicity stunts, or thinly disguised business trips, riding their horses merely to enrich themselves at the expense of their mounts.
However exclusion is not what The Long Riders' Guild is about. It exists to further equestrian exploration and travel worldwide. There must also be a place for people who are passionate about equestrian travel but for reasons of economy, responsibility, age, or geographical restrictions are unable to ride the mandatory 1,000 miles. For these special exceptions we offer the distinction of being an Associate Member. These cases will be decided individually based on an applicant's equestrian history.
Since its inception The Long Riders' Guild has 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.
There are currently nine Senior Long Riders, residing on six continents, who serve as the "Tribal Elders" of The Guild.
In addition, The Long Rider's Guild Press has gathered the largest collection of equestrian travel literature in the world, including more than 200 titles in various languages. Many of these titles are now for sale to the public through horsetravelbooks.com.
In closing, we invite other voices to join us happily and proudly as we work collectively to preserve an ancient global equestrian inheritance for future generations.
