The Hope Ride
Buffalo Moon Expedition’s message is simple. However, the long-distance delivery of that message has a most been most unusual and sometimes unfathomable even for horse minded folks who trail or endurance ride.
Experienced long-rider Megan Gray and her 13 year old Haflinger Hope will be heading out this fall with not much more than a toothbrush in Gray's saddle bags. Their destination is unknown as of yet. However, she is making her way south letting her intuition be her guide as far as a general destination is concerned. Gray states she has worked hard for one year as she has planned to take 10 weeks off to see where the countryside would lead her. She will start in the Chicagoland area, close to where she originally was raised.
Gray will still be utilizing many of the Rails To Trails to make her way. The Rails To Trails Conservancy have endorsed a few of her expeditions in the past. Gray is an avid conservator of horse history, historic preservation and also rail trails. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors to build healthier places for healthier people. As an equestrian explorer, Gray also is the founder of Buffalo Moon Expedition, an organization that preserves equestrian travel.
Her expeditions have been an integral part of Ms. Gray's life. This journey also comes intertwined with her desire to heal from some recent past trauma and "make right the ride from 2017."
Gray states, "My previous ride across Illinois was a disaster in 2017. " She listened to the voice to her non equine peers who begged her not to go alone. Going against her better judgment and knowing that riding with a friend can be fun, it more than often times will ruin a good friendship. In addition, she was in a abusive relationship with a partner who did not understand her passion for horse travel. "In so many words, he forbade me to go. In addition, he was used to glam girls with fake everything. I remember him saying in so many words to me that perhaps getting my hair colored would scratch my itch for horse travel," Gray stated, "He hated the horse smell in an varying degree. Hated it with a passion. He never accepted me as I am. Calling me ugly without make up, telling me I looked like an old hag when I didn't color my hair and comparing me to other women. He never accepted me for who I am...and since I was lost myself, I tried to be the chameleon girlfriend and lost myself in the process."
Gray caved into peer pressure and did the opposite of any ride she has ever done: she took a good friend, two trucks, two trailers and everything including the kitchen sink. In the Long Riding world, this is a recipe for disaster, heartache and complication.
Gray says, "Susan was such an awesome friend to attempt this with me. I always leave an out for people should they not want to continue. Somehow, when she didn't continue, we still maintained admiration and respect for each other. I give her credit for going 112 miles with me. Sergio was amazing and her riding skills were very well matched with mine." Gray always encourages others to ride along for a few days, but not the entire journey. "It never works out for me," she states.
They remained friends. However, the two trucks, the two trailers and the others who begged her not to go alone ruined every thing else for Gray. "This ride turned out to be their ride, not mine."
They remained friends. However, the two trucks, the two trailers and the others who begged her not to go alone ruined every thing else for Gray. "This ride turned out to be their ride, not mine."
"Saying this ride was over-complicated is an understatement! There was more shuttling the rigs than there was riding and savoring the experience. Absolute disaster. Not to mention that Buffalo Moon Expedition made front page headlines in the Daily Herald in Chicagoland: not finishing even that short of a distance was the utmost embarassment for me," Gray Stated. Gray feels like she owes the reporter Bert Constable an apology, and hopes to make up for it on this ride.
Swiss Long Rider, and sadly now deceased, - Basha O'Reilly when she mentored Ms Gray in 2008 said to her, "Just pack a toothbrush and go." Gray knows this to be true in her experiences. If the 2017 ride could be called anything, Gray would call it a "Pony Picnic with everything AND a toothbrush."
Those words Ring so true in Gray's ears who can hear Basha O'Reilly's (FRGS) lovely wisdom every time she swings a leg over into the saddle on an expedition like this. And for this reason Gray will ride in honor of her memory. Mrs. O'Reilly and the Long Riders Guild have been invaluable for mentoring her along the way. Basha passed away this year, and regardless of where things were left with the Long Riders Guild and Gray, Basha was always packed in her saddle bags theoretically with her mentoring wisdom close in Gray's heart.
Their hosts were amazing and they met some magical people. The horses left and came back in better condition than they left. But the ride totally missed the point. "I turned into the laughing stock of DuPage County among my friends," Gray states. Gray's positive attitude believed that any attempt is a success. But in the case of the 2017 ride... it was an utter failure."
Their hosts were amazing and they met some magical people. The horses left and came back in better condition than they left. But the ride totally missed the point. "I turned into the laughing stock of DuPage County among my friends," Gray states. Gray's positive attitude believed that any attempt is a success. But in the case of the 2017 ride... it was an utter failure."
Then life went from bad to worse. Gray with the rest of the commercial carriage companies in the city of Chicago were banned after a decades old fight with radical animal activists. She experienced 45 deaths in 24 months- several were family, her livelihood, her last relationship and cut ties with her soulmate once and for all. She lost everything, "Including myself," she states. She recalls living in a tool shed in 26 degree weather without heat. That was the lowest time of her life. She was stripped of all her money with no place to go, no one to turn to. She took odd jobs and did anything she could, including staying with an abusive individual because that was better than living on the streets.
The individual that Gray stayed with, even as she was paying the little rent she could, accused her of being her meal ticket after calling her a psycho-bitch one day. She remembers the day, "It was January 22, 2019 at 10:30 in the morning." Gray states she told that individual, "I'll be out tomorrow!" Gray called one of the oldest and truest friends. She landed in the burbs taking care of his 91 year old mom as she was coming back from serious health issues. "John is like a brother to me. He saved my life that day I called. John couldn't stand that "Jag off" that treated me so horribly. He also was in serious need of helping his mom get well. And what son wants to really have his 91 year old mom in all her glory revealed to him." Gray's past history in social work in long term care kicked in. "Helen was a blessing in my world. It was an honor to take care of her all those months. And it was the least I could do. They are my oldest family friends that I have."
"Crying herself to sleep in that tool shed in layers of clothing in 26 degree weather felt like the beginning of the end." The only pride she had was leaving that horribly abusive relationship where the word "C***" was what she was called frequently for no reason. But Gray has found her way back out of everything she has lost (and ejected from her life) to the point where she can put life on a 10 week hiatus.
Little by little she picked herself up by her bootstraps, got herself working in her own amazing rescue transport business ---- and started to thrive again. Through two years of utter hardship (much harder than the perils of a long ride), Megan is back at it with renewed positiveness. Gray is going about her ride in the least complicated as possible. Their travel style is similar to that of the Old West. The duo travels from town to town and less than 15 miles a day at a leisurely pace of 2 to 4 miles an hour. Hope is much slower than previous horses that have undertaken this journey. But she is as solid as they come.
“Without Hope (in more ways than one), this ride wouldn’t happen,” Gray said. “ The safety and her care always comes first! The expedition will stop if Hope's well being is in jeopardy. Hope came into her life after losing her best expedition horse who was retired in 2012. Hope is a stout Halflinger with good sense. She is an ex Amish women's horse who was the "main family transportation" before Megan came into her world. Hope and Megan also partnered together on their Commercial Carriage business until the activists started stalking her and she had to shut down. This Gypsy cowgirl relies on help from hosts and sponsors as she ventures the trail. Hosts often transport gear to the next host, and give them a place to shower, eat and rest.
“It’s not the miles, it’s the meaning,” Gray emphasized again. "The longest journey we take is life itself and into our own world. Equestrian Exploration heightens the possibility of discovery with every mile under saddle."
Our modern day Don Quixote rides off to be able to make the good weather and arrive where ever the winds takes her by Thanksgiving with Hope her dreams in her saddle bags and a whole bunch of real live HOPE to pass on to those they meet on the trail!
There are so many people who are hurting out there. And storytelling can help connect one another. Hope is a sweetheart of a horse. She will be the lamp at the person's feet to help open up their own possibilities of healing if they are struggling. Gray states that Luke 9 is what initially inspired her to head on out. The passage reads, "Go I am sending you, the harvest is plenty and the workers are few." Luke of the Bible was a physician. Gray states this long ride is 'just what the doctor ordered."
Buffalo Moon Expedition does not accept monetary donations. Those who want to donate money to support the ride are asked to donate to Hayslope.org. To learn more about Hayslope go to www.hayslope.org.
Support Buffalo Moon Expedition as they make their way on their route. Megan would love to have you join her on her Facebook age at www.facebook.com/megangray226@gmail.com
