Taking the slow, scenic route

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Arts & Culture

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For some, crossing the state on horseback might inspire visions of early settlers in the 1800s. One look at the modern-day outfit three Kentucky women recently put together for such a journey, however, dispels that picture – in about as much time as it takes to hit the “send” button.

Ginny Grulke, Edith Conyers, and Anne Husted spent months planning their 12-day, 137-mile trek, which took place in September and was geared in large part to raise awareness for the Kentucky Back Country Horsemen (KyBCH), a service organization dedicated to protecting trails and equestrian access to public lands. A 60-foot RV accompanied a horse-drawn carriage that features a fold-out bed, inflatable rubber tires and a solar panel (to power a charger for electronic devices) – a dead giveaway this trip was made in 2014 rather than 1814.

But while it had its modern amenities, the journey was still more parts “adventure” than “luxury.”

Planning the route and finding overnight accommodations fit for the rig, three horses (that needed enough space to be high-lined between two trees) and the carriage were the first of many logistical challenges. The trio found campsites ahead of time by writing down addresses and knocking on doors.

“We drove the route first, and we would track our mileage,” explained Grulke, who lives in Lexington. “Our goal was to go between 10 and 15 miles a day – once we hit the 10-mile mark, we’d start looking for flat spots.”

Most homeowners they encountered were willing to let the women stay on their property once the Cross Kentucky Ride was explained. For the eleven-night itinerary, they found nine stops – including private residences and church picnics and parking lots – and built in two rest days.

Grulke and Conyers originally planned on camping in tents but quickly changed their minds after Husted offered to drive an RV. She also hauled the hay, the horse trailer, and unhitched the truck to shop for food along the route; she hauled her bicycle as well, so she could ride back to meet the ladies on horse after parking the RV when time allowed (which is turns out, it often did not).

Grulke rode Stormy, her Morgan horse, and Conyers drove a carriage pulled by Tig and Charlie, a team of Halflinger ponies. Since the horses were in a walking gait for three or four hours a day on paved roads, they wore DrillTex shoes, which have texture applied to the bottom for better gripping on pavement. Conyer’s farrier was on call, and they carried an EZ boot (which eliminates pressure on the heel) for emergencies.

The three horses had never traveled together, though all were fit enough for longer distances than the planned 10 miles a day. Stormy was accustomed to six-hour trail rides over mountains, and the Halflinger team has driven the carriage over 100 miles. One of the biggest preparations was introducing Stormy to the carriage.

With the help of their smart phones and tablets, Grulke was able to update her blog throughout the trip, documenting daily trials and tribulations that ranged from flat tires and generators that wouldn’t start, to horses that got loose from their picket and non-functioning carriage brakes.

The idea for a cross-country ride was born out of a desire to do something fun and different. To benefit the Kentucky Back Country Horsemen, the trip needed to take place in rural Kentucky.

“I feel like the riding of horses is a dying art,” said Grulke. “The average person sees a horse in a field – a racehorse or broodmare – and they really don’t think that anybody can afford to ride horses any more. I think it’s a shame to let this die.”

Grulke, who was elected as this year’s president of KyBCH, wants to promote not only the responsibility and the sport of horseback riding, but the fun. “People walk up to horses, a little bit afraid, but they don’t realize when you ride the same horse over and over again you bond with them,” she said.

Grulke and Conyers first met in 2007, when the Kentucky Horse Council called together trail riders to form KyBCH. Grulke was named president of the Central Kentucky chapter at that first meeting, and five other chapters around the state have developed since. In the beginning, KyBCH focused primarily on recruiting trail riders; today, the organization helps maintain the over 6,700 miles of Kentucky trails.

“The work we do isn’t just for horsemen,” Grulke said. “Everybody benefits because everybody uses the trails.”

Many riding trails are on public lands and are used by mountain bikers and hikers.

“We want trail riders and horse people to give back to the land they ride on,” Grulke said, adding that trails can become muddy, eroded and overgrown, with sediment running off into creeks and streams. Each KyBCH chapter is assigned specific trails and work days, and they cooperate with the land managers of each park to help alleviate the crunch of budget cuts.

Because not many horse trails exist in Fayette and surrounding counties, the Central Kentucky chapter helps other parts of the state, also maintaining the cross-country course at Life Adventure Center in Versailles. A chapter goal is to increase interest in horseback riding among youth, and LAC offers programs for children and youth.

While the Cross Country Ride didn’t have sponsorship, the women hoped the trip would bring in at least $500 through donations to the KyBCH general fund, which doesn’t have a fundraising mechanism at this time. As Grulke explained, fundraising “was kind of a second thought…we planned the ride before we decided to ask for donations.” Donations are still being accepted at the Cross Kentucky Ride blog, which also features daily updates and photos from the journey. (www.crosskyride.wordpress.com)

The three ladies are planning a spring 2015 ride that will take them from Sadieville to the Perryville Battlefield State Historic Site. Finding campsites will be less of a hurdle now that the three have experience – that means more time to enjoy the scenic beauty of back country Kentucky.

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Learn more about the Kentucky Back Country Horsemen at www.kybch.com.