It’s not about making good time, it’s about the experience and making good friends. Meg Carter, who recruited Long Riders Guild co-founder Janine Wilder to join her on a 1,000 mile trip on horseback, said, “Emotional freedom starts on the trail.” Carter, who is a pastorial counselor in nearby Lawton, has been mulling over the idea of taking a long ride for over a year and a half, and calls the ride “A God thing.”

“It’s ultimate faith, and I feel this ride can help me with the at-risk youth I counsel.”

The Long Riders' Guild is the world's first international association of equestrian explorers, and is an invitation-only organization. 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 39 countries. These Long Riders have collectively written more than a hundred books on equestrian travel and ridden on every continent except Antarctica.

Although this is Carter’s first long ride, this is not Wilder’s first experience on the trail. Wilder and her late husband Jim, traveled and rode horses, moving around the country to ride all the trails that we could find. They have ridden the beautiful rocky shores of Oregon, the breathtaking snow capped Rocky Mountains and to the stone faces of Mount Rushmore. They have ridden the sandy beaches on the east and west coast, been to the edge of high cliffs overlooking raging rivers and toured spectacular red rock canyons of the Southwest.

Wilder is now the designated American Trail and Travel Expert for The Long Riders Guild. She is also an author, writting articles for several equine magazines including Western Horseman, American Cowboy, Women and Horses, Trail Blazer, Trail Rider, Paso Fino World, and many others including international magazines. Her articles are also on-line (internet) magazines such as: Horse City.com, Equisite.com, and Equine Post. Her photographs have also appeared in many magazines, books, web sites, and advertisements.

Even with the damp, wet weather, the women, along with dog companion “Killer” are enjoying their adventure and look forward to meeting those along their trail, “It’s a real adventure,” said Carter.

After traveling up through Oklahoma, and up to Dodge City, the women will make their way back into Oklahoma with Ft. Gipson as their final destination.

For more information about the women and their trip, visit www.buffalomoonexpedition.com