In the beginning.
I bought my first horse when I was 42 in 1996 and, gone past the yearning to compete, looked around for a discipline that appealed. Endurance riding as in EGB was close but I looked for something at a slower pace.
Having watched a video about Long Distance Riding it opened up a whole new life for me and my horse, who was fed up with going round in circles at home. At the time the internet hadn't taken off so this video suggested camping and tethering your horse wherever you could find somewhere to park yourselves at night.
I tried it but didn't much like the camping or tethering, but just leaving your gate and going for it was exciting!
Some company
I also tried to get friends to commit to coming with me and stay in B&Bs instead without success.
So the idea in 2006 to start a website for the more adventurous rider where they could offer others help with information on bridlepaths, safe routes and sometimes offer to ride with them was born.
I don’t know why I took so long to think of it since the internet is now thriving. I searched for hours trying to find a website for the UK and only could find The Long Riders’ Guild whom with have links with.
Popularity of long distance horse riding
Long Distance Riding is gaining in popularity, with riders going for Lands End to John O'Groats or riding round the coast of Britain. Equine Ramblers UK is non profit making and offers Long Distance Riders the opportunity to offer their services as a Trail Partner and help other riders with local information. It's free to become a member and Trail Partner. There's a forum to where members can talk to each other, articles and trail stories. We are building a network of Trail Partners UK wide and would welcome more Trail Partner volunteers. It doesn't matter if you are not interested in Long Distance Riding. It's more important that you can give solid local knowledge. Please help us.