A lot of people don’t realize it, but the American west still has herds of wild horses that inhabit portions of the country. It is estimated that about 37,000 of the animals still roam the west today and these strong, sturdy creatures are uniquely adapted to their environment. That makes them a particularly good choice for a new equestrian expedition that is set to get underway on March 15th. That is when a group of four riders will set out on a 3000-mile long odyssey that will form the basis of a new documenary entitled Unbranded.
In few short weeks, riders Ben Masters, Thomas Glover, Ben Thamer and Jonny Fitzsimons will embark on their adventure, starting at the border of Mexico and heading north. Their route will take them more than six months to complete, crossing through Arizona, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming and Montana before finishing at the Canadian border. Along the way they’ll pass through such amazing locations at the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone and Glacier National Park.
The four men will ride this trail with 17 horses, each of which were previously wild mustangs. Their journey wouldn’t be possible without these amazing animals and the film that they will shoot will be a testament to the partnership between rider and horse. Through this film they hope to not only recapture the spirit of adventure in the Old West but also share with viewers the story of these wild mustangs, many of which are available for adoption to those looking to add a high-quality horse to their stable, ranch or farm.
The route that the team has elected to follow is a custom one that they’ve selected themselves in an effort to experience the true backcountry of the places they’ll be visiting along the way. The path will lead along portions of the Arizona Trail, Great Western Trail and the Continental Divide Trail, passing through deserts, canyons, mountains and plains along the way. It should make for a stunning and dramatic backdrop to their adventure.
Sometime back, the men started a KickStarter campaign in an effort to raise funds to make this film. I’m happy to report that with three days left in their campaign, they have exceeded their budget and plans are moving ahead as expected. In fact, they’ve already begun filming the early parts of the film, capturing footage of the riders working with their horses before they set out. The video below is from that KickStarter and will give you an idea of what to expect from this film when it is finally released.
The expedition is expected to finish up around September 20th of this year.
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Can't wait for the documentary!