Television-show hosts to ride border to border

David and Anita Hasbury-Snogles/Columnists
Published: April 9, 2008

I’m still here back in the ‘old country,’ where we have had the dubious delights of snow and sleet these past few days - not my favorite thing about the United Kingdom, but I keep telling myself it’s only for a little while longer.

All things U.K. aside, here’s the scoop on a truly great adventure that is being planned and run by our very own Culpeper TV celebrities Tom & Pat Seay. The adventure is due to be announced at the annual ‘Equine Affaire’ Exhibition currently running in Ohio.

Anita and I have had a few adventures of our own as we traveled around the country with our horses Max and Roo, but Tom and Pat’s challenge takes the title as far as ‘Great Adventures’ are concerned. They plan to ride from Mexico to Canada in May 2009, riding every step of the 1,800+ miles on horseback, and taking with them a number of fellow trail riding enthusiasts including us.

We’ll be the ‘token Brits.’ among the crew and are very excited at the prospect of doing the ride, although it is a bit scary thinking about being on horseback for some four months through some breathtaking, but potentially dangerous scenery.

I have no doubt that they will succeed in this ambitious adventure, for they are no strangers to traversing the nation.

Back in 1995, Tom and Pat organized and rode the Transcontinental Trail Ride or “Coast-to-Coast” as it was more familiarly known, spanning some 3,300 miles and passing through 81 cities and towns with 257 people joining them from 19 states as well as Canada.

As Tom says this time:
“I plan to take them from Old Mexico across the desert and across the border following the Rio Grande to the mountain men’s trails of the Rockies, then on through Wyoming to Montana and then into Canada. It ought to be a nice ride”
As ever the master of understatement, Tom is proud of the fact that he and Pat are the only people ever to have achieved a successful, organized ride like this before, and with no injuries or accidents along the way. He hopes to maintain that record with next year’s ride.

It isn’t likely to be a low-key affair, as the Seays produce one of the top TV shows on the RFD-TV network - “The Best of America by Horseback.” In fact, the TV series came about as a result of their having done the Coast-to-Coast ride.

The Mexico to Canada Trail Ride, as it is officially known, already has people queuing up - the Mexican government wishes to send representatives along the entire route, and the Back Country Horsemen of America is another group that intends to accompany Tom for most, if not all of the way.

Although for safety and logistical reasons, the numbers of riders physically taking part will have to be limited, there is no requirement for every participant to do the entire four-month ride. It is split up into sections of roughly a week at a time, and riders are welcome to join at any point along the trip, subject to availability. So every individual has the chance to join in and make history - kind of like going on a vacation, but with a little more purpose than simply rest and relaxation.

There is still a great deal of planning and activity involved in getting this huge undertaking off the ground - just finalizing the route itself is one mammoth task - which is one of the reasons for it not starting until May 2009. Without a doubt, I will be providing regular updates on the progress of the plans. I might even give a weekly report from the ride itself next year.
I just have to get that horse of mine a little more in tune with my way of thinking, before attempting 1,800 miles or more perched on his back.

David Snogles can be reached at david_hasbury@ yahoo.com.