The LRG

www.thelongridersguild.com

To quote from the LRG website, the Long Riders' Guild is

 "the world's first international association of equestrian explorers," and "seeks to ensure that our lost inheritance of equestrian travel knowledge will be available for future generations to claim and enjoy." 

I contacted the Guild when I set out on my first attempt at a long ride. Since then they have been of immeasurable help, with advice on everything from tack to weather, and contacts, and moral support.
I cannot overstate my gratitude to the Guild as a whole, to CuChullaine and Basha O'Reilly and to the individual members who have been gracious enough to share their knowledge and encouragement.

Before I contacted the Guild, I spent months reading the entire website end to end. Yes, months! It's an immense repository of info on all things equestrian travel, as well as biographies, stories and a publishing house. It's a HUGE website. Free to the public. And being updated all the time.

I strongly urge anyone contemplating a long ride to visit the LRG website. And even if you're not contemplating a long ride, it's a fun site to visit. Be careful, though - you might end up planning a ride of your own before you click off!