For many horse owners, Monument Valley exists as a picture on a screen saver, a scene from an old western movie, or a destination they'll visit one day. For one Pennsylvania rider, someday became a year-and-a-half-long plan that ended with her and her horses standing beneath the towering red rock buttes of Monument Valley.
What started as a dream eventually became a 2,000-mile journey across ten states, hours of preparation, and an unforgettable ride through one of the most iconic landscapes in the American West.
The experience taught her that trips like this aren't reserved for professional riders or seasoned travelers. With the right preparation, they're achievable for everyday horse owners willing to take the first step.
Where the Dream Began
The idea for the trip started long before the trailer was packed. About a year and a half before leaving Pennsylvania, she began researching what it would actually take to ride Monument Valley with her own horses.
The inspiration came after following another mother-daughter pair who had completed a similar trip and shared their experience online. Through their story, she discovered Pam Doverspike of Mild to Wild Adventures, a guide service that helps riders experience Monument Valley alongside local Navajo guides.
The more she learned, the more she realized this wasn't simply a horseback ride through the desert landscape, it was an opportunity to experience the landscape, history, and culture of the region in a way most visitors never do. But before she could think about riding through Monument Valley, she had to figure out how to get there.
The Planning Stage.
One of the biggest surprises was the amount of paperwork required when traveling with horses across multiple state lines. As she researched her route, she learned that every state has different requirements.
Some states only required current health certificates. Others required proof of ownership through brand certificates. New Mexico required an entry permit number obtained through a veterinarian and listed directly on the horse's health certificate. Even though Utah only recommends a brand certificate, many states along the route required proof of ownership.
Her advice for anyone considering a similar trip?
"Carry more paperwork than you think you'll need."
Multiple copies of Coggins tests, health certificates, proof of ownership documents, and any required permits can make travel much smoother if questions arise along the way.
"Once you understand what's required, it's not difficult. You just have to start planning early."
Preparing the Horses
This wasn't just a big trip for the rider. It was also a big trip for the horses.
She had purchased both horses as youngsters after they were born and raised in Montana. Over the years, they became trusted partners, and she knew if she was going to tackle a journey like this, she wanted to do it with them.
Before committing to the cross-country haul, her and her sister had completed a shorter test trip closer to home when the horses were around three and a half years old.
The goal wasn't sightseeing. The goal was confidence. She wanted to know that the horses would travel well, handle overnight stops comfortably, and be prepared for the demands of a longer journey. That preparation gave her peace of mind when departure day finally arrived.
Heading West
When the day finally came, the route would carry them through Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and finally Utah.
The trip took three and a half days. Rather than pushing long, exhausting travel days, she broke the drive into manageable sections of approximately 650 miles per day.
Most mornings started early—very early.
"We'd get up between two and three in the morning."
The early departures allowed them to travel during cooler hours and arrive at each overnight stop with plenty of daylight remaining for the horses to see where they were and to familiarize themselves with the location.
For overnight accommodations, she relied heavily on horsemotel.com, a resource that connects horse owners with horse-friendly lodging across the country. The website helped her locate everything from campgrounds and hookups to cabins and overnight horse accommodations. Planning these stops in advance eliminated much of the uncertainty that can come with long-distance travel.
Looking back, she was surprised by how smoothly everything went.
"I really enjoyed all the places we stayed."
One of her favorite stops was in New Mexico, where a comfortable cabin provided a welcome break before the final leg of the journey.
Arriving at Monument Valley
The final day of travel was intentionally shorter. With only a few hundred miles left to cover, they arrived right on schedule to meet their guides. Before the ride began, everyone gathered to review paperwork, discuss logistics, and prepare for the days ahead.
From there, the experience shifted from travel mode to adventure mode. And then she saw Monument Valley.
"It's awe-inspiring."
Like many people, she had spent years seeing photographs and watching western movies filmed among these iconic rock formations. Standing there in person was something entirely different.
The scale of the landscape was difficult to comprehend. The silence was remarkable. And everywhere she looked, there was another view that felt familiar yet entirely new.
Most visitors experience Monument Valley through a windshield. Horseback is different.
There are no distractions.
No rushing from overlook to overlook.
No barriers between you and the landscape.
"You're seeing it the way it's meant to be seen."
As the horses moved through the valley, every detail became more noticeable. From wildflowers and desert vegetation to the tracks left behind by wildlife and wild horses.
The guides shared stories throughout the journey, helping riders understand not only the landscape but also the people who have lived there for generations.
What impressed her most wasn't necessarily the scenery. It was the history.
One stop brought them to ancient petroglyphs carved into stone. Another introduced them to a traditional birthing tree, where generations of Navajo women once gave birth.
These weren't things she would have discovered on her own.
"They're stories that could be lost over time if people don't continue sharing them."
Those moments transformed the trip from a scenic ride into a cultural experience, and a reason that made this trip so important to happen now. The guide that she chose is in her 70's, and won't be guiding for much longer. She mentioned many times that this trip was special because of her knowledge of the area, and how special it was to have someone that was so connected to the land take them around. Something that they won't forget.
Riding Through the Desert
The desert presented a few surprises of its own. The weather was warm and sunny for much of the trip, with daytime temperatures reaching the upper 80s. At night, temperatures cooled considerably.
Throughout the trip, she relied on her Outback Trading Cattle Brand Long Sleeve Snap Shirt, Jenny Shirt, and the Outback Eight Second Straw Hat to stay comfortable while spending long days outdoors.
The horses faced a challenge as well. Sand. Lots of it.
"The sand definitely wore them out."
Accustomed to eastern footing, they had to work harder than usual while navigating the deep desert terrain. At the end of the day, they were more than happy to roll in the soft sand before settling in for the evening.
The Biggest Lesson
Looking back, she doesn't talk first about the miles traveled, the paperwork, or the logistics. She talks about confidence. Not confidence that everything would go perfectly. Confidence that she could handle whatever came her way.
The truck was maintained. The horses were fit. The route was planned. The paperwork was organized. Everything else was simply part of the adventure.
When asked what keeps most people from attempting a trip like this, her answer comes quickly.
"Fear."
Fear that something might happen to the truck. Fear that something might happen to the horses. Fear of trying something completely new.
But standing in Monument Valley after traveling across the country with her horses, she believes most riders are capable of much more than they realize.
With preparation and a willingness to embrace uncertainty, a trip that feels impossible today can become a memory you'll talk about for years. And that's exactly what happened here.
For anyone dreaming of making the journey themselves, her advice is simple:
Start planning. The hardest part is often convincing yourself that it's possible.
