Have Horse Will Travel podcast (S1E5): Trailblazers

The first 48 state ride: The Overland Westerners

Illustration from Bainbridge Island Historical Museum

Riding a horse around the country is pretty weird, I have to admit, but believe it or not,  I’m not the first weirdo to attempt such a journey.  Learn about the previous 48 state rides, and a few other “trailblazers” in long distance horse travel that inspired and informed me when I was preparing to do my ride.

Listen weekly as Meredith and Apollo share about their multi-year 48-state journey, talk with interesting guests, and discuss the realities of domestic abuse.

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What to Listen For:

00:25 Introduction to the episode: What is a trailblazer?

01:07 LD endurance riding and backcountry outfitting, and why they’re different than long distance horse travel

02:22 What is long distance horse travel?

03:25 When horses were the only way to travel

04:40 The Oregon trail

10:10 The Oregon Trail by Rinker Buck

13:34 The US Cavalry handbook

16:56 The Overland Westerners

20:40 Frank Heath

25:15 Messanie Wilkins

30:58 The Three Mules

31:53 Unbranded

34:52 Closing statements

36:19 End of episode

Resources:

Bainbridge Island Historical Museum - The OverlandWesterners 

The Three Mules 

Affliate links to resources:

The Oregon Trail by Rinker Buck 

The U.S. Cavalry Horse 

40 Million Hoofbeats by Frank Heath 

The Last of the Saddle Tramps by Messanie Wilkins 

Unbranded film 

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