Armchair horseback riders can hit the trail with Don
West’s Have Saddle, Will Travel: Low-Impact Trail
Riding and Horse Camping. The book features West’s
personal stories, poems and “Don’s Daily Dozen,”
13 of the author’s favorite exercises to keep riders in top
form. As readers relive West’s wilderness adventures —
which include chasing down frightened horses, dodging
hunters’ bullets and braving high mountain snowstorms —
they can also glean tips on how to pack light and picket a horse at
night.
But Have Saddle, Will Travel is not a how-to book
for beginners. This is a rambling meander through mountains, mesas
and countless cups of coffee. Although his book will probably make
its way to more kitchen tables than saddlebags, Don West brings us
the authentic voice of an accomplished, ardent horseman.
Have Saddle, Will Travel: Low-Impact Trail Riding and
Horse Camping, Don West. Storey Books, North Adams,
Massachesetts, 2001.132 Pages. Illustrated with color photographs
and maps. Softcover: $19.95.
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Backcountry adventure in the comfort of your living room.
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