The horse doesn’t look as bad as I thought he would in the video of him at the vet clinic. He doesn’t look good though. What a resilient horse.
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I wish we could thoroughly examine the horse’s feet.
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Yeah, it wasn’t a good video. I’d like the see the edema and the saddle sore, too - and I bet the horse’s mouth is ripped up from getting reefed on.
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I want to make it very known that Equestrian Canada results are not always accurate. So until it’s confirmed with the show, these results may not be correct. He likely did show but don’t trust the result. Not that it makes a difference, but EC is not reliable.
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and mouth.
He had travelled for days with that wire bit upside down and backwards.
Last night I caught the tail end of a live with 5 people I have been following on TT and are part of the FB group that archived the group and then made it public again. Apparently, one of them has a source that wishes to remain anonymous on Falcon/Shiok’s condition.
They stated in the live, that they want to do wants right and post correct and accurate information.
So many details about this dudes life is coming out. He was not selected to be a cast member of Love is Blind and people are speculating that is why he chose to ride to Seattle, because that is where the last season was filmed. Apparently he as already completed his “journey” and had decided to do a second one on horseback. That his Grandfather walked barefoot across the Sahara Desert.
Hopefully we will hear more about Falcon/Shiok’s condition today or this weekend.
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Yeah, EC relies on the show venue sending in results so there can be errors. I couldn’t figure out how to get to results from that link. Nonetheless, I don’t find any reason to doubt that he did a bit of h/j lessons in his teens and went to a couple of shows one season.
It’s also a phenomenon that some teen boys with good balance and athleticism and teen boy fearlessness pick up jumping really fast, the same way teen boys can excell at other extreme sports. Their ability to stay on over fences can run way ahead of their global riding skills and horsemanship. A teen boy like that could well end up looking like a star in his lesson barn and walking away thinking he’s a natural talent and knows everything about horses.
In the current case, the sudden job resignation, the erratic failed application to a reality show, and the very poorly planned horse trek way outside his area of competence all point to some emotional crisis. He seems very alone in the world. If he were serious about a trek, he is literate enough to research the kind of support system people do for these kinds of adventures. But for that you need to have people around you who want to be part of the adventure.
Yes, wanting to ride to Seattle is very odd and has to have some symbolic value to him because it just doesn’t make sense as a horse destination. Maximum mountains in the way.
On one hand, he has made himself a public figure and we are free to comment. On the other hand, he has not yet broken the law, and it’s up to vets and animal control etc if his horse has reached a point where they should intervene. The horse in the videos is not show ring fat but does not appear skinnier than lots of range horses who aren’t being seized by AC.
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Too bad for the horse 
That show is a circus; sounds like he would have fit in perfectly!
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The FB page linked upthread appears to be trying to do the responsible thing. They cleared off a lot of over-emotional rumor-mongering, which does nothing but undermine the credibility of the voices asking for common sense, and say they will try to post verified factual information only.
The problem with an anti social media campaign is that it tends to be overcome with hysterics and trolling. This does far more harm than good.
There are some FB’ers and probably other channels that I don’t follow who are responsible and knowledgeable. They are the ones who need to be promoted.
Today the rumor is that the pair are back on the road. Not confirmed.
As 2Raw is delaying his updates, so I’m guessing that it will be 2 or more days before we know what is happening right now and yesterday – if we ever know.
Had the same thought. If he goes straight across the southwest, TX > NM > AZ, then north through Nevada, it looks as if he can probably avoid most steep climbs.
But once he’s well north of these desert areas, I know nothing about Oregon-Washington other than there are a lot of green topographic markings on the map signifiying a long passage over mountains between southern Oregon and Seattle. A destination in southern Oregon would have made more sense. He could truck-trailer from there to Seattle, if Seattle is where he wants to be.
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So this may not be a popular opinion, but at this point this is what I’m thinking … and this is assuming that he has indeed cleared whatever stop happened in San Angelo and is back on the trail, unobstructed.
In this country, it is very unlikely that anyone will be able to legally stop him. Unless the horse deteriorates into near-collapse. But horses are resilient and stoic. And this is far from the first time in even recent history that a poorly planned and executed ‘long ride’ has carried on indefinitely.
A big anti social media campaign will do more harm than good. Because it alienates a good portion of the public. People don’t like to listen to drama and hysterics. They start to tune out of stupid rumors like those going around yesterday. They will default to giving 2Raw the benefit of the doubt.
In the situation as it is now, 2Raw has all of the power. He can accept or reject assistance as he pleases. He can choose any legal route. He can continue to do what he seems to want most, and that is gather attention and publicity.
Rather than make it a contest of wills that the SM public will lose, instead those concerned about the horse can put the welfare of the horse ahead of trying to unsuccessfully force a particular outcome, even if it means giving 2Raw more support than anyone wishes to do.
A few social media followers are taking what I think is a responsible and caring approach. Probably the only approach that may help, IMO. And that is to monitor the horse on a daily basis from in-person sightings, photos and video, as best possible.
And gently offer suggestions and even material support to help care for the horse. Meet 2Raw in a friendly way with things that the horse needs - as some have already done. Try making horse care a primary part of 2Raw’s message, rather than an afterthought. Try to shift his identify on that point. That may take time for him to process.
Avoid alienating 2Raw, as that goes contrary to the horse’s best interests. Try to get 2Raw on side by showing him how to satisfy a narrative that he can buy into while properly caring for his horse.
Just speaking personally, now that 2Raw and Shiok have lasted almost 2 weeks, I don’t think it is useful to try to push the “stop” agenda because it won’t work. It is a wheel-spinning waste of time and resources. One that may only serve to alienate the less-educated public. And LE as well, who do not like being told what to do.
Do keep influencing the publicity he is looking for, by continuing to inject ‘controversy’ through back door communications with journalists. Educate the public and the journalists on a FEW specifics that are most visible and telling. That is as much as they can absorb.
Of course that may not be satisfying for all of us who are alarmed for the welfare of Shiok - or any other horse that may substitute if Shiok has to drop off the trip. Yes the horse trip should stop - dude can carry on, on foot. But we can’t make that happen.
Just try to at least keep the guy honest in horse care. That may be the best that can be done for the horse, be it Shiok or another future substitute if Shiok doesn’t prove up to the entire trip. Those are my thoughts.
While it is interesting to monitor this saga (which I will certainly continue to do), it is best to leave action to the truly responsible and dedicated ‘long riders’ who are now actively monitoring and trying to provide whatever help that they can for Shiok or any other horse that may take Shiok’s place in the future.
As of today, that’s where I am on this drama. With all best wishes that Shiok will experience considerable improvement and greater comfort on this journey.
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I’ve driven from BC to California along the coast
several times. There are horse pockets obviously in Washington and Oregon in valleys and such, but basically you’ve got the mountains running down to the ocean. And a freeway running through. How does a horse cross the Columbia River?
I grew up in the coast mountains and have done all my horse keeping here. You can figure out trail loops in parks or logging roads, but it’s pretty much impossible to get from here to there (any direction) except on highways because any back road you’re on is going to eventually end due to topography. Logging roads wash out regularly and abandoned logging roads disappear fast into gullies. It’s just not a place I would choose for a “long ride.”
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If he gets that far – big “if” – he may happily trundle along beside major highways. He likes attention. And is clearly an impulsive risk-taker who doesn’t read situations very well.
Let’s hope it doesn’t become an issue because somehow this winds up long before then – with good outcomes for the horse(s). I suspect Shiok may tap out and another horse is brought in as a substitute.
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Assuming the current horse doesn’t last, which seems to be a pretty safe assumption, another, replacement horse may not prove to be as amenable, or forgiving…
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I note the FB group has been archived and all posts deleted. Someone lawyered up?
Maybe, but I don’t know that they were doing anything that could be subject to a lawsuit.
Based on what she was posting yesterday and today, I think it is more likely that she is turning the effort over to other people and groups. Trying to turn down the volume, as it were. She may be working with another group of ‘long riders’.
I don’t think that ‘ stalking’ would be a problem , because they are only tracking what he is doing out in public. The situation is more like the lack of protection that celebrities have from paparazzi, as long as they are in a public space. I’m not a lawyer though!
On a video he originally posted he said he was going through: Texas, NM, CO, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and then Washington.
When I worked for CWD - I did the drive from Seattle to MT, and while it wasn’t the most dangerous drive I’ve ever done, there was a lot of empty spaces and rough terrain that I don’t think either this horse or rider is ready for.
Same with Texas. As @redpony1 mentioned above, it looks like he’s taking “the long way” as well by diverting to San Angelo. I think he believes there will be more smaller towns because… that’s what the GPS says… and places along the way to stop, but from the sound of it - you and I both know that is NOT the case. I will be absolutely shocked if he even makes through New Mexico. I’ve driven TX-CO many times (and have also nearly run out of gas many times because I wasn’t paying attention), N-NV to TX multiple times, and have done S-TX to CAN twice to take me through all the states & similar routes he’s taking. I can’t imagine riding either of those drives without a plan A-D, pre-planned support, and multiple FIT horses.
All we can do is hope he heeds advise, stops this journey to properly prepare to attempt again, and that this doesn’t turn into another CW Cooper.
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Alrighty, that is an interesting route plan east of the Rockies.
Many of the details make me think that he’s a knucklehead, for sure, but not a complete idiot. This is the right time of year for a trip that he shouldn’t be making. As it were. And maybe more grazing during spring east of the Rockies than across NM/AZ.
Once he’s farther north he could follow some interstates that will be an artificially easier track than the natural terrain on smaller highways. Also bigger towns, maybe more help and resources along the way. If that is his plan.
However – To give some scale, Denver at mile-high 5280 ft is technically not in the mountains. It is at the foot of the mountains and is the beginning of the plains that stretch east. Denver is not even the highest point of the plains east of the Rockies. To scale the journey a bit, San Angelo, TX is at about 1.5k ft or a bit higher, I think.
And the high plains east of the Rockies are some seriously giant rollercoasters. There isn’t a serviceable interstate for him to follow until north of Denver.
From north TX I think he would follow Hwy 287 to where it meets I-70 just east of Denver. That’s my main driving route, lots of people favor that alternative.
Alternatively from TX, though, he could make his way west to the NM end of I-25 to follow it to Denver. Having driven this, it makes less sense to me by horseback. The southern route on I-25 from NM to Denver goes through some seriously hairy mountains around Trinidad. With bridges over deep ravines. (I drove it in winter once – not doing that again.)
Then I-25 eases down – then up again! By CO Springs has gained elevation 1k+ ft higher than Denver. Then he would have to get around Denver, somehow, as I-25 goes straight through the concrete city for many miles (and kind of defines the city).
Regardless of which route to Denver, circumventing the Denver suburban areas will be complicated. And regardless of which roads he’s following, he may be wanting to cut over to I-25 north of Denver, which would take him north to Billings, MT. From there he can follow I-90 west to Seattle.
But the part that really makes no sense to managing to successfully complete this trip is the Seattle thing.
Rationalizing! Getting to Bozeman would be a huge accomplishment. Austin to Bozeman - he could call it good there.
But – no. The plan to turn west from MT to Seattle … those are some rugged mountains to cross in Idaho, with or without the interstate. They don’t call them the Sawtooth Range for nothing, even with an interstate to follow. Beyond those mountains I don’t know the route.
I’ll be surprised if he makes it to Bozeman, on any horse. It is very hard to imagine that he is able to ride a horse(s) from MT to Seattle after just having ridden Austin-Bozeman.
Well, the trip north is mostly a gradual gain in altitude. I suppose that rider and horse will have time to acclimate to the thin air.
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The Facebook group is gone. Information was getting back to Cyril. It’s hard to know how Shiok is doing because the posts are always of video/images several days old. For someone who is obviously out for publicity, he’d done a good job of hiding. I just hope that he starts to accept more help.
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287 might work, but it won’t be easy. Also, horses aren’t allowed on I-25. People forget that little detail when they make their big plans. Mountain biking on 287 would be much better. Why can’t these mid-life crisis men go cross country on mountain bikes instead?
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Some states don’t allow horses on interstate highways. Interstates, however, tend to follow the easiest, most direct routes and going in their general direction could be beneficial, especially those interstates that parallel older roads.
Those older roads tend to be the main routes through their areas and, as such, go through a lot of cities and towns, often becoming their Main Street. In less-populated areas, someone not carrying supplies, like this person, and needing several gallons of water s day will find himself dependent on those cities and towns.
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If he can get to the Wa / Id border at the proper place, he can pick up the Palouse to Cascade / Iron Horse Trail. It is an old railway grade which ends just east of Seattle. There is, however, very little grazing and civilization thru much of it so not exactly sure how he would manage food and water.
