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Horse Drawn Caravan Journey

How to Break Out! Step by Step Article. We all have dreams of breaking out of our boring routines. Perhaps you dream of moving to an island, or buying a farm, or learning to scuba dive. Whatever you dream, you can make it happen!When people hear our story, they have many questions. We had the same questions when we first started talking about this adventure. If you are reading this, you have probably longed for adventure and freedom. We want to share the answers so you can live your dreams, too.

Like you, we dreamed of adventure, of travel and excitement. These dreams led us to buy two horses and a gypsy caravan, and seek our fortune on a horse drawn caravan journey. It is an ongoing adventure. We have visited amazing places, and met some wonderful people. This is the incredible story of our life-changing experience.

Having lived this life, we can heartily recommend it to anyone. You have the power to wave a friendly goodbye to your boss, pack up your life, and follow your travel dream wherever it leads you. We'd like to help, with advice and encouragement!

Where did our dream take us? On an exciting horse-drawn caravan journey through Europe!

To chronicle our adventures, we have a website Both of us, John and Thea, have written our own parts. Although we are traveling together, we have also had two different journeys. We each have our own insights and impressions, drenched with emotion. We wrote this book on the same principles. We hope you enjoy yourself as much as we did!

Questions
We all have dreams of breaking out of our boring routines. Perhaps you dream of moving to an island, or buying a farm, or learning to scuba dive. Whatever you dream, you can make it happen!

When people hear our story, they have many questions. We had the same questions when we first started talking about this adventure. If you are reading this, you have probably longed for adventure and freedom. We want to share the answers so you can live your dreams, too.

The decisions we made were based on our life and our situation. What worked for us may not work for you. Feel free to borrow any ideas that might help you.

Mistakes
In any adventure, things sometimes go wrong. We have made many mistakes along the way. Some were serious, others were just hilarious. We don't regret any of them. Those lessons have been learning experiences which helped us manage our new lifestyle and enjoy our adventure.

Introduction
Before we go on, permit us to introduce ourselves. We are a Dutch couple who married in 2005. John was born in 1959, and has three children from a previous marriage. Thea is three years younger, with two children from a previous marriage. All the kids are grown up now. They all have their own lives, careers, and families.

In The Beginning

It All Started in Paris
Five months before our wedding, we sat in a Paris restaurant talking about the future. It was February 2005, and we both had excellent jobs with good career prospects. John worked as an ADHD Coach for adults, a position he greatly enjoyed. He also supervised staff at a psychiatric institute for chronically ill adults. Thea, meanwhile, enjoyed coordinating employment for young dropouts. We were happy and content with our careers.

Then one of us raised big questions, like, "Where will we be in five years? How are we going to get there?"
When we really thought about it, we realized that we wanted a change. We were both working 50 hours a week to pay the mortgage. We needed two cars to get back and forth to work. The only quality time we had when we spoke on the cell phone as we drove home. Why were we working so hard for so little satisfaction?

We were working to pay for a car that we used to get to work. We needed to work so that we could pay the mortgage. We needed a mortgage so we had somewhere to go when work was over. Despite our hard work, we were not living our dreams.
Life Questions

What do you really WANT in your life?
What do you NEED?
What DON'T you want?
Where would you EXPLORE?
What is your GOAL?
What are your PASSIONS?
WHY NOT NOW? What holds you back?
Will that reason go away, or will it also exist LATER?
If you don't do this, will you REGRET IT forever?

Now What?
After many discussions, our vision became clear. We want more with less. We wanted more variety, more independence, and more satisfaction. Both of us were tired of the stress and hurry in our lives. Clearly, we needed a major lifestyle change.

John dreamed of working with horses again. He had fond memories of a previous job, one that was quite unusual. With a horse and a cart, he would collect leftovers and bring them to a cattle farm, where they would be fed to the cows. The job was part of the environmental movement in Holland at that time. John had many fond memories of his two years with horses, and wanted more.

Thea was inspired by John's stories. She looked forward to more freedom with less responsibility. John's enthusiasm is contagious, and she became very enthusiastic about working with horses.

A Little Farm?
We thought about buying a small farm with horses and a vegetable garden, everything we need to be self-sufficient. Ireland sounded perfect. It was further from Holland, though still close enough to make travel simple. After all, we still want to visit our children!

In July 2005, we traveled to Ireland. We were dismayed. Since Ireland became a member of the EU, it has become very expensive. To live our dreams, we needed to keep costs down. Regretfully, we turned our back on Ireland and look for other ideas.

Dream Questions

Do you share a dream with your partner?
Is there a way to combine your dreams?
How much money do you really need?
Are you both committed to living on a budget?
Can you handle change, or does uncertainty upset you?
Can you live without following your dream(s)?

Dream On and On and On
Since Ireland is not possible, we started to look for other ideas. Both of us want to experience life in another country. But where?

A New Dream!
We plan to use our savings for living expenses. Because of our budget, we needed to look for an inexpensive country. But where?
Eastern Europe is inexpensive. Even better, countries like Romania, Hungary, and Bulgaria remind us of a rural, back to basics lifestyle. It's exactly what we want! Meanwhile, Thea had dreams of traveling the continent in a caravan or mobile home.

We talked about it, and a new dream unfolds. We decide to take an exciting new journey - a horse-drawn caravan trip to explore Eastern Europe. Once we decided that, a million other questions arose in our minds. Our heads were spinning with the possibilities!
(We won't keep you in suspense much longer - the answers are coming in good time!)

The Slow Express is Born!
Once the decision was made, we became very excited. We remember the evening clearly - both of us jumping on the couch, discussing the pros and cons of our upcoming adventure.

We discussed our plans over and over again. Everything sounds so logical, with everything we want. We get adventure and travel, horses and our independence. Our adventure will soon begin!

After all of our talks on dreams, we are happy with our plan. Our nomadic life combines both of our dreams into one big exciting adventure.

Before we could go on, our project needed a name. John came up with the idea Slow Express. Finally we had a name. Now the hard work would begin.

Goal Questions

Where do we want to visit?
What excites us about those places?
How can we find out more about these countries?
Should we spend our holidays for that?
Do we know anyone who invents or travels in other countries?
How long should we stay?
Do we want to visit, or move there permanently?

The Preparations Begin
We start preparing in earnest. To prepare for this trip, we need to let go of the security of our present lives.

To live our dream, we must sell our house, quit our jobs, and either sell or donate all of our possessions. It's a bit scary, but the money we get will give us freedom to pursue our dreams. That makes it all worthwhile.

Our money comes from the sale of our house. As for our jobs, we decided to resign. With our qualifications and training, we can start all over again if we must. Our skills remain with us. We built a comfortable, secure lifestyle over time, and could do it again if necessary.

Although we are moving, we remain registered as Dutch citizens. We keep all the rights of citizenship, and postal workers can still find us!

Family Matters
While we were excited about our adventure, we were also worried about leaving family and friends behind. We faced some difficult decisions before we could leave.Our kids are older now, grown and with families of their own. We still worry about them, as they worry about us. In case of emergency, we can be back quickly. To stay in contact with family and friends, and to avoid homesickness, we decide to return home every three or four months. We can rent a car, take a train - whatever it takes!

Emotional Questions

Can the kids look after themselves?
Can we live without our family nearby?
How do we keep in contact during the trip?

The next questions might be hard to answer right now:
Can we live together in a small caravan?
How that will affect our relationship?
What can we do when things get tense?

Trial and error is the best teacher

Our New Horses
Up to this time, neither of us had much experience with horses. John worked with only one horse, and that was 25 years before. Thea, meanwhile, had petted a horse or two on the nose, but that was all. When it came to camping, the roles were reversed. Thea had camped as a child, and later with her own children. John had never camped before. Clearly, we both had a lot to learn. Every question, every problem that comes up, was a challenge to be solved. Fortunately, we both love a challenge!

Financial Questions

Should we sell the house or rent it to others?
Should we quit our jobs or take a sabbatical?
What do we do with all our belongings - store them, sell them, or give them away?
Do we need a home address?
Where and how do we register?
What kind of insurance do we need?
Does our bank accept banking transactions by phone, internet, or other method?

We decide to search for two suitable horses. In October 2005, we find Aysha and Isabella. At age ten, Aysha is well-trained. Her five-year-old daughter, Isabella, is only half trained, and needs more training and experience.

Our horses are Haflingers, a strong and robust breed. They are strong enough to pull a caravan through most terrain, though very steep mountains are too much for them. Both horses come from a big herd of around 40 horses. The vet declared them healthy before we bought them, so we are confident in our investment. Despite their health, neither horse can be called fat - that is an understatement!


Horse Questions

What kind of horses do we need?
How many horses?
How old?
Do we want mares (females) or geldings (neutered males)?
Can we train them ourselves?
Do we take horseshoes? What kind -- iron, leather, or rubber?
Can we trim the hooves by ourselves?
How much time do we take to learn training and driving?
Do we want a special approach? Parelli, Roberts, NaturalHorsemanship, other?

Boarding Stable
We place them in Breda, a ten minute drive from our house. This is a great time to learn about our horses - how to feed them, how to deal with problem behaviour, and more. John really loves working with Aysha and Isabella. Working with them, petting and stroking them, brings him many moments of joy. Meanwhile, Thea is learning more, getting more involved with the horses. As their training progresses, we buy an old one-horse cart to train the horses.

The House
After two months of work, the house is finally ready for sale. We interviewed real estate agents, picking the one that seemed best. Then we waited. And waited. And waited.


Selling the house is frustrating. We are full of plans, eager to start our journey. Now, we can only wait. To occupy our time, we do research on questions like:
What do we need to learn to make this trip?
Can we buy a good caravan?
Where can we find a caravan?

Whatever information you need, you can find it online. We learned about horse care and travel, holidays and caravans for rent. We never found an all-in-one site that had everything we needed, though that's just a matter of time. We even found a website with people traveling with horse and caravans, but the information is poor. It's like mining for diamonds - dozens of plain rocks and an occasional gem!

Caravan Questions

What equipment do we want in the carriage?
How much weight can we take with us?
Is there enough storage space?
What safety precautions should we take?
Do we need insurance for the carriage?

The Caravan
Our plans have stalled. Both of us are still working; the house is not yet sold. Our search for a caravan has been fruitless. Then by sheer chance John meets an old man in his eighties, a gypsy caravan builder by trade. And yes, he had one for sale. We made an appointment, hardly able to believe our luck.

Loaded with absolutely no experience, we walked into a huge hangar and fell in love. There it was, our dream caravan. It was heavenly. It had a sturdy wooden frame, with cute little windows and two tiny doors up front. The caravan was tall enough for us to stand upright, and there was plenty of storage room.

With only a few minor adjustments, it would be perfect. We could both see ourselves driving "along God's roads" in this beauty. The price is reasonable, and within two hours, we have the caravan we sought.

Of course, we had no place to store it, no experience, and no clue what to do next. But at least we had our caravan! With hindsight, perhaps we should have run in the other direction.

Training Continues
At first, the children of the riding school rode Isabella, but that ended quickly. She begins to act terribly. Our lack of experience shows, and we don't quite know how to handle her. The combination of bad behaviour and inexperience causes problems for all of us.

Our lowest moment came when Isabella suddenly pulled back on her lead shank, then kicked out, hitting John in the chest. It was a terrifying moment for us. We needed help. Our local "horse whisperer" agreed to help us, and he was wonderful! He told us that Aysha, the "friendly one", seems friendly but is actually treating us disrespectfully.

With practice , we learned the basic principles of interaction between man and horse. We learned to be soft yet firm and unequivocal with our commands. Over time, we began to understand how important distance and closeness is to a horse.

To get better, we also took riding lessons. This teaches us that Isabella isn't really a bad horse. She is young and inexperienced, with a lot to learn, and sometimes gets confused or frustrated (just like we do!). We enjoyed our lessons a great deal. Our confidence is growing, and we are making progress with our "young one".

Wagons, Ho!
As this happened, John also started training with a wagon. Our choice of schools was unfortunate. Several incidents occurred, and we became less comfortable with the instruction. The situation reached a climax during John's driving exam. John was forced to ride with other candidates, using an unfamiliar team. The examiner deemed him too insecure, lacking in confidence, and doesn't let John pass the exam.

After so much time, we were confident of our abilities, even if the instructor wasn't so certain. We decided to drive our horses, complete with caravan, towards the Black Sea. John took several drives with an instructor to build his confidence. Soon, John is a confident driver, while Thea acts as groom without hesitation. We practice and practice to improve.

With training, Aysha and Isabella were working well as a team. There are still minor problems. For example, every time we set Isabella up in the pair and gave the command to walk, she gave us trouble. It is her ritual, but over time it fades. We are confident that once we start our trip, she will continue to improve.

In past weeks, the horses have gained weight, and are in great condition. Rather than keep them in a barn, we keep them busy. They stay outside as much as possible, enjoying a diet of hay and grass. Now their coats are soft and shiny, and they glow with health.

Harnesses, Bridles, and Other Tack

We chose our harness and other tack for its quality. With help, we customized a system that fit our needs. Each horse needs a harness in order to pull a cart. There are different kinds of harness, depending on the weight of the cart, the size of the horse, and more. For light work, the horse only needs a breast collar. For heavier hauling, like we were doing, we chose a "France Horse Collar", known in Germany as a marathon harness. This would help the horses to pull our heavier caravan.

A note - putting a harness onto a horse is called "harnessing". Attaching the harnessed horse to the cart is called "hitching".

Harness
Our harness is made of solid leather, reinforced with nylon strips for strength. For the traces, we used ropes instead of leather - we just liked the look of it. These traces lead from the harness to the caravan so they can pull it. We attached the traces to the caravan with safety clips. In case of emergency, the clips can be opened safely and quickly.

Breeching straps wrap around the horses' haunches. These help the horses to hold the caravan back along downhill roads. The breeches are attached to the harness, not the caravan.

Harness Questions

What kind of harness should you use?
Can you test the harness first?
Do you know anyone who can help you?
Can you buy the harness with the horses?
Would you like custom-made harnesses? Is there someone who can do that for you?
Which bridles, blinders, and tresses are best for you?

Bridles
Each horse has a bridle. The bridles have blinders, preventing the horses from seeing what's to each side. Blind bridles are a legal requirement in some of the countries that we drive through, and Aysha and Isabella do well with them. Still, we know the horses like to look around, so we let them bend their necks to the side.

A curb bit rests on the bars of their mouth. Horses have a gap where there are no teeth - this is where the bit fits. The curb has a shank to increase the pressure on their mouths, giving added control. Lines extend from the bit to John's hands, helping him to steer.

Equipment Questions

Can you try different bits?
Does anyone have experience that could help you?
Should you use a portable fence at night or during rest stops in the daytime?

Our Route
With all the other preparations in hand, it was time to look for a route to our destination. Our horses are Haflingers, so they are strong. Still, there is a limit to how much weight they can pull. Steep hills can also cause problems.

As we plan our trip to the east, we decide to follow the larger rivers. This will keep us from crossing big mountains, which the horses can't do. The caravan is too heavy. We needed to mind the terrain, staying on flat land whenever possible. Fortunately, the Rhine-Main-Danube canal extends between the North Sea and the Black Sea. Most of it is a naturally meandering river, though some is artificial.

We planned on starting with the Rhine, following it until we reached the Mainz-Wiesbaden water junction (where the river Main enters the Rhine). At Bamberg, Germany, the Main continues upstream as the Rhine-Main-Danube canal. That will bring us through Vienna, Austria, passing the Hungarian border, meandering through Bulgaria and Romania to the Black Sea.

If you say it fast, it doesn't sound like such a far journey!

Almost Time to Go
At last, the house sold. We quit our jobs. We need another three months after this to prepare before we can take off.

With three months to spare, we bought an old caravan on a camping ground. This was a great time to test out some of our ideas before we "hit the road". At the same time, we kept training our horses and developing our skills.

As we prepared, we tried to think of all the situations we would face. That helped us to prepare for everything from daily chores to emergencies.

We need a place to put the horses during breaks and overnight, somewhere safe and protected. Two large rings on the side of our caravan gave us a perfect place to tie the horses. Both Aysha and Isabella quickly recognized this as "home", even when the scenery changed. We also placed two poles along the back of the caravan. These were perfect for hanging harnesses, allowing sweat and moisture to dry overnight. A plastic cover protected them against rain and sun.

Safety Questions

Will your insurance company provide coverage for horses and travel?
Are there lights and signs on the carriage?
Are there any other safety regulations you need to know?
Don't forget the first aid kit and fire extinguisher!

For short breaks, we tie them to the side of the caravan or stake them out with a rope and pin. At night, something more comfortable is needed. We found a portable electric fence made with modern synthetic materials interwoven with fine wires. It came with a number of 59-inch high plastic posts, making it quick and easy to set up. It was a great choice for us. Not only was it economical, it only needed a 9V battery to operate. Since it weighed almost nothing, it was easy to store and carry.

The grass really is greener on the other side of the fence! Twice, they escaped in search of greener pastures. Isabella especially is a champion escape artist, keeping us on alert just in case.

Route Questions

Are there circumstances which determine the route, like family visits, work, or friends?
Do you plan ahead or travel by sheer chance?
Are you travelling from point A to B, or just roaming around?
Are there mountains, rivers, and traffic to consider?
Rural areas or cities?
Are there steep hills to overcome? Can the horses do that or do you need motorized assistance?

The Washroom
One of the most common questions is where we, well, where we "go". How do we shower and use a toilet? That was a tough question for us, too! We found the perfect solution for our bathroom woes in the "nonolet", a compact composting toilet. Liquids are collected in a tank, and everything else turns to compost.
To the rear of the wagon, we made a small washroom. The toilet and a fitted washbasin take up little space. Under the washbasin, there is a plastic reservoir with a drainpipe, making clean-up easy.

Storage
We made large storage areas under the sofa. RV magazines are a great source of inspiration and ideas! Those magazines helped us find resources and even equipment to make our caravan comfortable. For example, we decided against one large tank of water. After all, it's not always easy to collect! Instead, we use four jerry cans, each 5, 1/4 gallons. This makes fetching water easier.

Our kitchen is very tiny. We chose a petrol burner to cook, along with a kerosene stove for cold weather. We avoided a wood stove because we didn't want a chimney. However, if you want a wood stove and chimney, place the chimney on the left side of the wagon (if you drive on the right side of the road) so it isn't damaged by trees hanging on the side of the road.

We also bought Vienna, our Jack Russell terrier. Not only is she female, making her more watchful, but she is also small. Our caravan has little room for a bigger dog, yet a smaller dog would be unable to jump up onto the box. When she first arrived, she was in a cage. It looked tiny, but it took up too much space in our caravan. There was no room for our feet. Exit the cage.

In addition to everything else, we also brought a bike. It has been helpful for many reasons - for checking out an upcoming bridge, fetching water and groceries, even for seeking time and space for "meditation" after an argument!

We installed safety signs on the rear of the caravan. One is a triangle, another a square plate with a horse silhouette, and the third tells followers that our speed is a blistering three miles per hour.

Keeping weight down is very important. With all our preparations, the horses will still have to pull twice their own body weight. That includes all of our gear and water supplies.

More than Horsepower
We want to be in contact with our families, not lost in the wilderness. We want to use our laptop for email, maintaining our website, and more. We need electricity. Our new solar panel is rated at 125 watts with a 110 amp battery. We added a 300-watt converter, and voila! Power!

With the power problem resolved, we decided on a mobile internet contract. It was expensive - the cheapest one we found was $300 each month, and is worth every penny. We talk to our family at least once a week using phone, email, and letters. Our website lets family and friends track our progress and share the adventure with us. We save costs by buying a new mobile providers card (for mobile or cell phones) in each country, keeping our costs down. If we ever can live "Off Grid", we don't know .

Our Journey Begins!
Finally, the big day arrives, and we set off on our journey. At first, we arranged places to stay, so we could be sure of a "home". However, in the months that followed we developed a whole new attitude.

We would ask before setting up camp in our favourite places - near to water and electricity. Sometimes, when we want our privacy, we would set up camp in a quiet, isolated spot. Other times, we liked being around people.

Wherever we go, we are surrounded by curious people. Often, we are asked the same questions over and over. We always let them into our caravan to look around. Most are friendly and interested. We have met some amazing friends! Some have invited us over for dinner, to take a shower, or just to do some laundry. Some were very friendly, others more reserved, but everyone was hospitable. When we could, we would help with the gardens or farm chores to show our appreciation.

Hospitality Questions

Do you like to be on your own?
Is it safe to stay "wild"?
How much do you want to "invest" in people?
The most important thing: are the horses OK?

Food
We don't have much space for food - only a little cooler containing beer and wine, butter and cheese. You know, the essentials! Every day, we stop at little stores to stock up with more.

The horses are eating more now. At first, they were fine with just hay and grass, eating three bales a day. After a hard day at work, they are eager to eat. After three months of this, we notice that they are losing weight. The heavy work is tiring them out, and they need a concentrated feed. We add oats to their diet.

On each driving day, the horses get three quarts of oats in the morning, and another two in the evening. Driving through rural areas, there are always farms, so finding feed for the horses has been easy. Farmers and horse lovers give or sell us their hay and oats. Often we share our vegetables and other delights with them. We all enjoy it, and it helps us to bond with the people we meet.

Horse Feeding Questions

What do you feed the horses? Hay or grass? Oats or other concentrated feed?
Do they eat different kinds of grass and hay?
Can you find specialty feed on the road?
Give them time to adjust to concentrated feeds.

We plan to drive 15 miles each day. At the start of our journey, Aysha and Isabella were barefoot. Since they lived in a muddier area, footwear wasn't needed. After 250 miles, though, we started to see problems. Their hooves were wearing away, causing discomfort. Horses in the wild never need shoes, but our horses were walking along road surfaces, which caused damage.

Since it isn't always easy to find a blacksmith, we decided against using iron shoes. Instead, we chose to use rubber horseshoes. Each shoe is customized for the horse, so it fits like a glove. Instead of nailing the shoe to the hoof, like with iron shoes, these rubber shoes fit over the entire hoof, looking like big running shoes. Problem solved! Or so we thought

Riding at a trot made the rubber shoes rotate, injuring both Aysha and Isabella. Then we lost a shoe on the road, though fortunately quickly found it . We tried to line to boots with bits of fur, socks, anything to keep the boots from turning and chafing our horses. We are in big trouble now. The horses' hooves are too short, and we can't go any further with the rubber shoes. Disappointed, we decide to go with iron shoes. The barefoot method, combined with rubber shoes, will have to wait until the horses heal.

Horse shoe Questions

Barefoot, iron, leather or rubber shoes?
Can I do this myself or do I need a blacksmith?
How much training do we need for this?
Which equipment do you need? File, hoof knife, brush.
Where can you get the knowledge you need?

More Excitement
In the meantime, we are still experimenting with oats. Too much oats makes our girls agitated and too "hot" to handle. Without oats, they lose weight. It is a trial and error system. The influence of concentrated feeds like oats takes time to be felt (62 hours, to be exact). Eventually, we develop a system, and the horses thrive.

Our river route worked well. We enjoyed many peaceful days driving along the river, enjoying the scenery. The horses coped well with hills and mountains, and we became more confident.

Along the way, most people are patient and friendly. Very few honk their horns or yell. It's amazing to watch the smiles on people's faces as they see the horses and caravan! When we can, we pulled over to let cars pass, especially in heavier traffic. It was remarkable how friendly everyone is - they smile, give us the "thumbs-up", slow down when they pass.

Driving a slow team of horses at three miles an hour on the same road where cars speed along at fifty miles an hour can be frightening. To avoid it, we often look for other routes along hidden roads, old horse trails, and bike paths. Some of these routes were closed at one end, with vertical poles that prevented our entry. Oh well, move on to the next road and try again!

Adventures in Luxury
One day, we enjoyed lunch in a small village. We are just getting ready to drive again when we met Peter. He is a driver himself, and a retired architect, who was drawn by the sight of our horses peacefully munching hay under a tree. He has a lovely property, complete with horses and a massive meadow. He kindly offers us a place to stay, and we accept. What a meadow! What a garden!

He invites us for a drink. Before we know it, we are lounging near our caravan sipping real Champagne from France Cheers! The evening is coming, the sun is soft and warm on our skin, and life is perfect. We could live like this forever, or so we thought. That is, until a farmer decided to harvest his corn on the next field over. The next four hours is a blur of noise, machines, and dust.

Two days later, another fabulous encounter with luxury. We were standing behind a hedge, trying to escape the heat. Hearing hoofbeats, Thea peeked around. A class from the local riding school was out for a ride. Their instructor, Sandra, welcomed us warmly. Not only did she own the riding school, but also a big hotel! Immediately, she takes over. Before we knew it, we had a lovely three-star hotel room with warm showers, a hot dinner, and a lovely evening with this wonderful, warm-hearted family. Our horses received the same fine hospitality, and we were all very refreshed the next morning. We departed with sincere gratitude for their kindness.

We can't explain how much we learned from people along our way. Many people approach us to tell us we are living their dream. Others have shared their dreams with us, life stories that made us feel small and grateful. What wonderful, kind, generous, friendly people we met! The first question many would ask was, "Do you need anything?". What kindness!

I remember how easy traveling used to be - just step into the car, turn the key, and zoom! Now, by the time we are ready to "turn the key", we have already been busy for an hour and a half grooming, harnessing, and hitching the horses. We drive for five hours, covering 15 miles, then stop for a break. After we "park", it takes another hour to care for the horses. Of course, we also take a 90-minute lunch break, so we can't complain. It looks like a lot of work, and it is, but it is also very rewarding.

As we pass the water junction at Mainz, we turn away from the river. The river passes directly through Frankfurt, a city with a population of about a million. We definitely want to avoid that area!

Closed Roads
A few miles before Frankfurt, a bridge crosses the river. Unfortunately, it is a private bridge owned by a multinational chemical industry company. We pulled up in front of the poles, noticing that the bridge is closed. The guard was a young man, skinny, with a sprinkling of acne across his chin. He was about the age of our youngest son. He advises us that the road is closed, he's sorry, but nothing can be done. I sweetly ask if something is closed, it perhaps could be opened up again?

There must be a manager or someone else to help us out. Shortly, a woman arrived. In a friendly manner, she told us of a second bridge. Unfortunately, it was in the opposite direction, and about eight miles away - no way! Ten minutes later, we get an escort, who takes us across to the end of the bridge. The surveillance people took photos to show the rest of the department, and we were once again on our way.

Publicity
At the beginning of our journey, we contacted an Internet site dedicated to "people helping people". We searched for places to stay with our wagon, and quickly received many replies. A broadcast company owns the website, and also films TV stories of interesting things on the site. Their program, Club van 100, is broadcast in Dutch, and focuses on rare items, outstanding offers, or charity help.

Club van 100 communicates by television, radio, magazines, newspapers, and the Internet. After a week, the producer contacted us. He wanted to do a television item about our four wheeled, horse-drawn caravan trip. Everyone wanted to know more about our new nomadic lifestyle.

Of course, we said yes. The media car arrived, and from it emerged all their equipment, their camerawoman, and a sound technician. The car is really too small for all of them!

The crew worked all day, taking pictures and filming. The broadcast was quite wonderful. Two weeks after the episode broadcast, we had a huge list of people who had welcomed us, giving us addresses of places to stay. It was great! We also received enthusiastic support and encouragement from people who kindly told us that we were living the life they wished they had.

Publicity Questions

Do you like publicity?

If yes:
Which media do you call in? TV? Radio? Newspapers? Magazines?
Do you want a website? Should there be a contact option on it?
Only you can decide what is best for you!

We also found it helpful when articles appeared in local newspapers. Sometimes the media coverage was time-consuming, especially when we were eager to be on the road again. Still, the media coverage opened doors for us, and we stayed in some unexpected places. Some of these interesting places have included:
Underneath a highway 60 feet above our heads;
In a big city park, surrounded by 15 blocks of flats;
Near the water on a parcel the size of a postage stamp;
Riding schools, new housing estates, farms, and even the parking lot of a huge castle;
Campgrounds, where we were surrounded within a minute by kids and their parents;
At the Main River - a beautiful spot that unfortunately included a railway station, with trains passing every five minutes;
Camping with modern Gypsies in their big Mercedes and mobile homes;
At one end of an airport runway;
Near the port of call at the Danube River;
Tucked between two houses, with one neighbor supplying water and the other supplying electricity;
At a gay meeting place (we found out about this late in the evening - don't ask how!);
In people's meadows, with full use of their house's kitchen, bathroom, and laundry facilities;
On the most idyllic, romantic, beautiful places along the Rivers Rhine, Maine, and Danube!

National and Local Media
The national media has been very interested in our journey. Altogether, we have been mentioned many times, including:
three appearances in national broadcasts;
five newspaper appearances;
two radio broadcasts;
a trendy magazine;
John's hometown advertiser.

Our Relationship
Our relationship has evolved during this trip. After 1600 miles of facing obstacles and working together, we know that we can depend on each other. Our roles and positions are clear. John does the driving, cares for the horses, fencing, and food. Thea, meanwhile, plans our route, and takes care of the kitchen, repairs, and various other chores. We work as a team to get the job done.

Our caravan is about 500 ft.. From the beginning, we wondered if that was enough space. In the first days, it felt strange to move around in such a tiny area. This was home now, tiny as it was. Sometimes on our journey, we were invited to shower at the home of a kind host. Often their bathroom was bigger than our entire wagon!

To conserve space, our table folds up and so does the sofa bed. When the table goes up, the bed must go down. To use the table, we wiggle like worms from the front to the back. Once we finish using it, we fold it up to make room. At night, we pull out a sofa bed, which measures 6.5 feet long by 4.5 feet wide. There's plenty of room for both of us.

When you live in close quarters, arguments sometimes happen. When this occurred, we would step outside, take a walk, pet a horse, and take time to breathe. We learned to solve these little arguments quickly.

Relationship Questions

Are you both devoted to this lifestyle and journey?
Do you trust each other, even in unsafe situations?
Will you both work equally hard?
Can you put aside your disagreements when necessary?

Frightening Moments
Of course, it wasn't all easy. The brakes did not work properly on two locations. While John and the horses stayed calm, my throat was raw from screaming! Everything turned out well at the end, but the caravan needed some adjustments.
One night, we made the mistake of staying near the edge of the city. When we chose our camping spot in the light of day, it was quiet and peaceful. By night, however, it turned into an entertainment district. Young people passed constantly, and alcohol flowed all night long. The more alcohol flowed, the braver they became. To prove how macho they were, some would even touch the electric fencing. It gave them quite a jolt, but they kept coming back for more! Some wanted to pet the horses and even ride them. They were having a lot of fun, and not annoying us. Still, for the sake of safety we stayed up all night.

Our Most Beautiful Moment
It had been a long, hot day of driving. When the day was done, we "parked" near the river and unharnessed our horses. Then we walked into the refreshing, cool water with our two horses. You could almost hear our skin sizzling. It was breathtaking!
Our journey has brought us closer together, and writing this book has been sheer pleasure. I hope we have inspired you to take a chance and live out your dream, too. That would bring us complete joy! Best of luck following your dreams!

It is now February 2008, and this is the end of the first part of our story. Next month, we continue our journey, learning more about ourselves, our horses, and the world around us. Come join us in our journey by visiting our website at A Horse Drawn Caravan Journey through Europe.

As our horse drawn caravan journey continues, we plan to write books about our experiences and insights. Watch for it on our website - you don't want to miss the excitement!

Writers:
Thea Verhoeckx
John Verhoeckx

Mark 2 Escort - Circuit of Ireland 2011

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