Long rider back home
Corporate exec from San Martin to traverse California end-to-end
by THERESE BRATBERG
Pinnacle Staff Writer

After spending 100 days on horseback riding California from end to end, 47-year-old Garry Stauber has experienced what it means to be a true long rider.

Stauber completed the 1, 350-mile long trip from the Mexican border to Oregon and back 20 days earlier than expected.

With his two quarter horses, Guenevere and Ginger, Stauber began his journey in Panoche Valley on march 15, moving at a place of three miles per hour. He soon realized that the two years he had spent preparing for the trip were necessary.

“One thing I learned is that California is long,” said Stauber, who spent an average of six days a week on horseback for almost four months. “I didn’t realize the impact of being away from home. Living in a tent and having to plan everything you need is hard to do.”

The first days of the trip Stauber rode 24 miles a day, but it made the trip more tiring and less fun, so he cut it to about 18 miles a day. Though people often asked him “Does your butt hurt?” riding was not the hardest part. The logistics of finding a place to sleep became a nuisance, while avoiding freeways, fences, and big cities often eliminated the possibility of shortcuts.

“In a way, it was exactly what I expected, but I didn’t expect people to be that nice,” said Stauber.

While trotting down busy streets and traffic-filled highways, Stauber and his two horses naturally caught peoples’ attention. Seeing a rider and a packhorse in a downtown area is an unusual sight. In Ridgefield, a small town south of Redding, he put up his tent in front of a fire station. Shortly after, he was welcomed by three families who all wanted to feed him. The net morning a couple was waiting to give him a break from his regular diet of macaroni and cheese and tuna helper, when they took him out to breakfast.

“One family stayed in their trailer and gave me their home,” said Stauber. “I almost felt uncomfortable, they were so nice.”

In the town of Cottonwood, someone gave him a $2,500 saddle to prevent his horses from getting saddle sores. This hospitality was a norm throughout the trip. He wa surprised by the kindness of the people, but couldn’t help looking forward to the times he got to see his sons. They dropped off food at numerous locations and even accompanied him for a short time on the trial. He first met up with one of his sons after riding over San Benito Mountain.

“I just started crying, and my son thought I was burned out already,” he said. “I just got emotional, and seeing them was like a highlight every time. The key thing I learned is the value of how much I care fort them. I’m learning that lesson over and over.”

The road got lonely at times, especially during the last 300 miles between Sacramento and Oregon, but chestnut Ginger and blond Guenevere kept him company. Their roles were decided along the way when Stauber realized that Guenevere liked being the packhorse and Ginger wanted to lead. While Stauber was camping in the tent, Ginger would seek attention by picking up the tent with her teeth. She didn’t let him write in his journal either and would playfully bump his arm. Now, after having settled down at home, their newly formed bond is still obvious.

“We’re friends more than ever,” said Stauber. “This is what they’re designed to do. I’ve taken them for a ride twice since we’ve been back and they’re like ‘Are we done?’ They just stand there and stare at me. I can wave their halters in the air, and they still won’t run away.”

during the 100 days he spent on the road, Stauber stuck to most of the details of his planned route. It was only in the second part of the trip when he chose to follow the coast between Santa Cruz and San Francisco that his route slightly changed.

He had originally planned to stay along the coast much longer, but was invited to the Horse Expo, a fair held in Sacramento, and changed his course. From there he rode along the historic Highway 99 to Redding. Along the Sacramento River, the trio was met by swarms of mosquitoes. Temperatures above 100 degrees made it the rare unpleasant memory of the trip.

But back at home, all that is forgotten. Stauber looks back on his strip with enthusiasm and humor, knowing the journey was worth it.

“I got an education I couldn’t buy,” he said. “It was like going for my PhD, and I learned more about who I am and what I’m capable of. I had a lot of experiences that were deeper than expected. I felt closer to God.”

He said that Guenevere and Ginger are both happy to be home, but they are also in better shape than ever. On the trip, packers and ranchers would drool over them as they passed by because they were so muscular and fit, Stauber said. Colic was never a problem thanks to the specially formulated food he brought along for the horses.

Completing the ride successfully was a dream that came true for Stauber, who grew up on a ranch and has been riding horses all of his life. He said he wouldn’t ride across California again, but would consider riding a shorter distance somewhere else.

“Before I ride my state again, I’m moving to Rhode Island,” he said.