Greta and Alejandro Matos became members of the Long Riders’ Guild, the international association of equestrian explorers, when they rode across Chile. When they set off across Northern Patagonia in 2022, their daughter Sofía Alegría joined them. Upon the completion of the journey Sofía became the youngest person ever to be made a Member of the Long Riders’ Guild. Yet as she rode with Sofía Alegría sitting in front, Greta realised that the Little Long Rider symbolised every child whose future is in danger because of climate change. In a remarkable introspection the Mother, Long Rider and Environmentalist explains “Our children, just like our Earth, hold the key to our collective future. If there was ever a time to reconnect with the bravery within our hearts, face our fears about our uncertain future, and turn toward the unknown with curiosity, it is now.”

German Long Rider Sabine Keller has ridden more than 40,000 miles. In a special report created for HRL’s environmental edition, Sabine describes the many alarming changes she witnessed during her latest equestrian journey across Europe.

Will we stand aside and watch as humanity in its arrogance continues to ruthlessly ravage the fragile ecological balance and thereby transform the planet into our coffin? If children are to have a chance, we have a blindingly obvious individual duty to save the Earth by abolishing the harmful habits that have brought us to the brink of collective suicide.

In researching equine issues with heat, I received an article published at UF/IFAS about Anhidrosis (or in layman’s terms, non-sweating) in horses. The reasons for non-sweating horses are still unknown, and though data regarding certain breeds has been produced and factors identified, there is no definite treatment defined for this condition.

Rising temperatures around the planet present a danger to millions of equine lives. Yet the vital facts of how heat can injure or kill horses is not widely known or understood. The most extensive international study of this threat is contained in the Encyclopaedia of Equestrian Exploration, written by CuChullaine O’Reilly, Founder of the Long Riders’ Guild. He has adapted the illustrated chapter which contains the collective wisdom of Long Riders past and present. The author has authorised HRL magazine to encourage the public dissemination of the article in the hope that this vital information may help save equine lives.

Long Rider author and environmentalist Greta Matos knows that an on-going series of climatic disasters not only cause physical damage but also inflicts emotional harm to millions. Greta wisely wrote, “When we know better, we do better!” She then compiled a list of organisations and websites which provide vital information and a source of inspiration for the public.

Lucy Leaf overcame a great many challenges during her 7,000 mile ride through the United States. Ironically her life was put at its greatest risk after she stepped down from the saddle. Like other Long Riders in Europe and the USA Lucy became a victim of an insect-borne health hazard that poses a danger to millions of horses and humans in dozens of countries. Lucy’s ground-breaking article confirmed that climate change was encouraging a massive growth in the tick population and revealed how the deadly insects were migrating north into new areas. To demonstrate the importance of Lucy’s research, as this article was going to press American medical authorities announced a 357% increase in tick borne illnesses and warned “more people are catching Lyme disease than ever before across the United States.”

I too, was diagnosed with Lyme Disease many years ago. Though our infections originated in different areas of the United States, it seems the complications of the disease were very similar.

Unfortunately, those complications included issues I once would never have imagined in the medical field; ignorance, ego, and complete denial of a disease that was wrecking my own and others’ lives.

More than a decade before today’s environmental crisis, in his passionately written book, Harmony, Prince Charles issued a prophetic warning about the future. The Prince cautioned humanity that the great juggernaut of industrialization was endangering our planet and all life on it. During her equestrian journey across Mongolia, Canadian Long Rider Bonnie Folkins witnessed firsthand the environmental catastrophe described in this book. Her review reveals why the concept of living in “harmony” has never been more important.

As dancers, our desire is quite different from the objective of an equestrian…Our desire is about finding shared moments of engagement, perhaps co-creating a shared movement language. Our team of filmmakers and dancers have been a constant presence in these young equines’ lives.

Due to the unprecedented heatwave throughout the world, HRL decided to recognize the crisis by featuring foods that are…HOTTER THAN HADES!

By returning to the intent of the Wild Horse and Burro Act, we can step towards a healthy and more balanced ecosystem. That was the intent behind the 1971 law, which enjoyed public support and has even more proponents 50 years later. In the decades since my work with Wild Horse Annie, I have learned many lessons about our equine neighbors, and more evidence that the Wild Horse Act benefits humans and the ecosystem has come to light.

As a horse owner, what precautions do you take when the heat soars? There are always obvious ones like access to plenty of water and shade. But summer is usually the time horse owners seek to hit the trails, especially in northern areas…so how do you keep your horse safe when the heat goes beyond the usual?

We know that different foods have different footprints…But what if we could go further? What if, instead of having farming and forestry in direct conflict, we could develop a system that allows food production and forest on the same parcel of land? (Republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license.)

Our survival depends on the one thing we take for granted: water. But that life-sustaining element is in serious danger from climate change…and as a result, so are plants, animals, and humanity. It’s time to stand up and work together, to save our water sources so it can continue to save us.

The world is a big big place, and what better way to see it than from horseback? If you and your horse are in travel mode and looking for a scenic getaway, South Dakota – and this one-of-a-kind property – awaits you!

Despite profit-driven misinformation, wild horses and burros are good for the environment – and their capture by BLM is doing real harm to the ongoing climate crisis that impacts us all. These are simple but powerful actions we can all make to make a difference for the planet…whether you own a horse or not.

When most of us hear the term “ranch water”, we think of water pumped by windmills, or galvanized water containers made for cattle and big enough to swim in. But Texans love Ranch Water as a different kind of drink. Go to a local bar – especially in West Texas – and ask for Ranch Water, and it will be served without a second thought.

All living creatures – plants, animals (including domestic and wild horses, and not least the human race – are all at the mercy of an ongoing climate crisis. The HRL September 2022 publication is all about the environment, with hope is that we can unify and tackle this crisis together.