Lee “The Horselogger” is on a unique journey, traveling from Nevada to the east coast by horse and buggy. His inspiration? A reunion with his childhood sweetheart.
“I started this trip 17 years ago to visit my childhood sweetheart. And that’s the short and long of it, and I’m gonna go see her again. But this time, if she’s in the Bronx, I’m going to bring the team down into the Bronx,” Lee explains.
This adventurous journey, spanning over two decades, has been filled with memorable experiences, but what stands out for Lee is the generosity of the people he meets along the way.
“It’s not experiences. It’s an experience, the generosity of people, that people who share the people, the thing that I cherish is people who share themselves with me, what life is about what they do what they see. I love to learn, and they’re sharing that learning with me,” Lee shares.
Traveling such long distances by horse and buggy poses its own set of challenges, especially considering modern traffic. However, Lee approaches these challenges with a unique perspective.
“I don’t carry a weapon with me. That’s my safety strategy. I’ve observed people driving recklessly, and if I had a weapon, I might have used it. So, I choose not to carry one. Instead, I deal with it by expressing frustration at people’s rudeness and thoughtlessness. However, I must say, encounters like that are rare. For the most part, 99% of the people I meet are wonderful. It’s just the 1% that can be problematic,” Lee explains.
But Lee’s journey is about more than just traveling; it’s about connecting with people across America and spreading joy.
“It’s developing a connection. You see, we live in the age of communication. But we have nothing to say to each other. And when you’re communicating, that means you’re connecting to the person. You’re listening, and you’re hearing what they’re saying and what their sub context is. And that’s what the trip is, even with nursing homes, and particularly with nursing homes. I cannot imagine being warehoused in one. And some of them are very, very scary places to be. And I just tried to bring a little bit of joy to folks who are there,” Lee shares.
For those considering embarking on a similar journey, Lee offers valuable advice.
“Don’t do it for yourself. Don’t don’t do any of it for yourself. As I travel, I keep telling everybody, it’s not for me, I’m just the pony driver. There are a whole lot of people on this trip. And if you don’t realize it, and I’ve run against across people doing adventures, who don’t understand this concept when people hand you something, it’s not because they just want to hand you something. It’s because they want a part of the trip. And everybody’s welcome. You know?” he advises.
Accompanying Lee on his journey is his loyal horse, Jesse, a Suffolk punch from England.
“This is Jesse. He’s a Suffolk punch. There’s about 2500 of them in the world. From England. His life I do not really know. Prior to when I bought him he was in Yerington Nevada for about a year and a half. And then beyond that, I don’t know. He’s a workhorse. He’s bred to pull and he does a really good job,” Lee explains.
Lee’s journey is not just a personal quest; it’s a testament to the kindness of strangers and the power of human connection. If you’d like to support Lee on his journey, you can contribute here: www.gofundme.com/f/us-get-going-again