Today us wild horse advocates are throwing a birthday
celebration
for a man who’s getting pretty well known all over this
great nation.
He’s an adventurous sort of guy with the kind of courage
that’s rare
And he fits into an elite category of folks who we call
those who dare.”
In the 1980’s he went from the artic circle all the way to
the equator,
then did something just about as amazing some twenty years
later.
He traveled to the lower 48 state capitals, a 2,000-mile
course.
It took him three years to do it on the back of a horse!
He rode in all kinds weather conditions over every kind of
terrain
He traversed the woodlands of the east coast and the
harsh Midwest plain
He crossed the southwest deserts and withstood their
insufferable heat
Until at last he hung up his spurs after finishing this
equine feat.
He had to be hard as nails and a whole lot tougher than
leather
to stay in the saddle day after day bracing the inclement
weather.
A few times he had to cowboy up when he could barely go any
longer
but there wern’t no quit, he just rested until he got a
little stronger.
He got the inspiration to make this long, endurance saddle
trek
from 2 of his predecessors, Frank Heath and George Beck.
These men made the same ride about a century before him
so as a tribute he named two of his horses in honor of both
of them.
He felt America’s heartbeat and saw her warm welcoming smile
as his horses plodded along steadily mile after endless
mile.
The friendly folks he met on the road usually offered him a
bed
or at the least tried to make sure that he and his horses
were fed.
He had very good reasons for making this extra long
saddle trip.
One was to help poor students in Paraguay get a college
scholarship,
Another one was to try to kindle a weak flickering flame
And get senior citizens to follow their dreams and jump
back into life’s game.
It was an absolute splendid trail ride of a gigantic
dimension
but it generated some public support and a lot of favorable
attention.
After he completed the ride his next goal was to write a
book.
About all of his great experiences on the overland trail he
took.
With a Christian heart and a horseman grit he rode solely
for the LORD
and not for his own glory or any kind of earthly reward.
But he did make history twice so, he certainly deserves his
share of fame.
They call him Gene Glasscock but “ Long Rider" is his real
name.
