Horseback travel

Hi there, I'm looking for a friendly person who knows about the capabilities of donkeys/mules and horses for long-term, round-the-clock travel. (I already do this, but with a donkey that's far from indestructible)

I struggle to assess the potential of some equines, so I'd like someone at least somewhat competent in this area whom I can contact from time to time to share photos of animals I'm considering buying.

I'm not in France, I don't plan to return, and I often come across charlatans who'd sell their animals to anyone for a few good bills... But that's not my case—I'm primarily looking for a female donkey or a mule (my sweetheart isn’t a big fan of horses), and as a last resort, a mare strong and enduring enough to carry me in the mountains, meaning a constant load of about 80kg: - Me: 60/65kg - Saddle: 2/4kg - 8/10L of water - A rope: 800g

Based on what I've read online and advice from people, I understand the load should represent a maximum of 15/20% of the animal's weight or at least 1.40m at the withers? Mules would be ideal for me, but they sell out VERY quickly, so I never get a chance to find one... (I always leave a safety margin with the equines I meet to ensure their spine doesn’t get damaged over time)

Anyway, advice won’t be much help because I don’t want to make this decision ALONE when buying this female, to ensure I choose a relatively indestructible creature.

I’ve been visiting long and short ears for a year now, but I still haven’t found the right fit out of concern for her, which is why someone who stays in my contacts to help me make the final decision would be more than welcome :)

Thanks for your attention, hope to hear from you soon!

Hey there, fellow travelers!

I’m planning a multi-month trek across Central Asia starting April/May 2025, blending horseback travel, hiking, and stops of a few weeks if the opportunity arises. Craving adventure, nature, horse contact, human connections, and culture. I’ve got decent endurance from camping and medium/long-haul trips, but this would be my first project of this scale—especially with horses and in such sparsely populated regions.

With an eye toward a well-prepared expedition that still leaves plenty of room for intuition, I’m casting my message in a bottle: + Tips for self-sufficient horseback prep (I plan to do some intensive training in Europe before departure, then start my journey on-site with an agency like Cheval d'Aventure for the first few weeks) + Suggestions for community development/solidarity projects I could join for a few weeks or months along the way + Travel buddy(ies) interested in joining me for part of the adventure (especially for self-sufficient horseback travel), or recommendations on how to find these companions + Any other kind of info is obviously welcome!

Thanks in advance for your invaluable help—and maybe see you for a stretch of the road together!

Antoine.