A Scottish man has embarked on a 3,500-mile horse ride across the US in memory of his best friend who died of cystic fibrosis (CF), battling thunderstorms and singing Beatles songs in the rain, to help fund research into better treatments for people living with the incurable condition.
Peter Steel, 35, who lives near Aberdeen, has taken part in several fundraising challenges, such as running the Walt Disney World Marathon in Florida, but his latest “mad idea” involves riding his “faithful steed” Ringo from Maryland to California and camping along the way.
His journey was inspired by his best friend Hannah Dyson, who died on May 1 2005, aged 16, after a courageous battle with CF – and he started preparing for his trip in 2019, saving approximately £10,000 of his own money to cover the costs.
Peter set off with Ringo earlier this month, but nearly “gave up” within the first two weeks after his equine companion slipped down an 8ft embankment and sustained an injury which became infected.
They had to “backpedal 50 miles” to see a vet, and then faced thunderstorms and lightning while making the same journey back.
While Peter thought it may be “the end of the line”, his determination to complete the journey, which will take a minimum of eight months, and the kindness of others have spurred him to keep going.
He is aiming to raise £1,000, which he could have “just donated” rather than spending thousands of pounds on the journey, but he said he wants to challenge himself, and hopes the money will help fund research into better treatments and prevent others from dying of CF.
Hannah’s parents, Peter and Annabelle, said they are “completely overwhelmed that Peter should undertake such an incredible journey across America” and they “wish him all the very best”.
“It’s not your everyday idea,” Peter said.
“Most people will cycle somewhere or go hiking, for example.
“I’ve had a few people telling me it’s animal abuse, or that I’m mad and ‘it’s never going to work’ – and to be completely honest, if it doesn’t work, so be it, I’ve tried.
“But it’s the people telling me I can’t do something which makes me want to prove I can.”
Peter, who works as an equine physiotherapist, started riding as a young teenager, before buying his own horse at the age of 17 and later competing in showjumping events.
He initially trained and worked as a chef, but after seven years in the industry, he said he “absolutely hated it” due to the unsociable hours and “fancied a change”.
He worked offshore in the oil and gas sector and then, at the age of 30, completed the first of two courses in equine physiotherapy.
His equine work largely inspired his decision to ride his horse Ringo across America for his latest fundraising mission – but his main motivation is Hannah.
CF is an inherited condition that causes sticky mucus to build up in the lungs and digestive system, and while treatments are available, life expectancy is shortened.
Peter met Hannah when they were both around 12 years old, as they had the same classes at school, and she became one of his “best friends”, but four years later she died, leaving him “devastated”.
“She was just one of those people who was happy and cheerful,” he said.
“She was always open to talking about CF – educating people and giving them information about what the condition actually is – and she always had a positive outlook on everything.”
Peter said it took him “a long time to move on”, but he continues to keep her memory alive by tackling challenges every “five or six years”.
He started preparing for his trip across America before the first lockdown in March 2020 and saved up about £10,000 for equipment, veterinary bills, equine vaccinations and transport costs.
The largest expense was a custom-made carbon fibre saddle, which is “super lightweight”, along with attachable saddlebags, costing around £2,500 altogether.
The camping equipment amounted to £1,500, the transportation costs – moving Ringo from Texas to Maryland – cost £2,100, and the vet bills and paperwork cost nearly £300.
Peter met Ringo, a six-year-old Tennessee Walking Horse, through a friend a year ago, and set off on his 3,500-mile journey from Maryland on June 10.
He said planning the trip, which will finish on the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge in California, was not too challenging as he will mostly be following the American Discovery Trail which creates a coast-to-coast route across the US.
However, within the first two weeks, Ringo slipped and sustained an injury, adding another 100 miles to their journey as Peter had to turn back to visit a vet, and the pair then battled multiple thunderstorms, leaving “every item of clothing and equipment absolutely drenched”.
“It started absolutely bucketing it down and there were flashes of lightning every two, three minutes, but it was too late to put things back in the tent and wait, so we had to pack up and leave – and it turned out the waterproofs I was using were completely useless,” Peter said.
“Every item of clothing, my shoes, they were just sodden, and it was just miserable.
“When Ringo injured himself, I panicked and felt depressed… but after chatting to some people at the campsite, I just convinced myself that I shouldn’t give up just yet.”
Peter said Ringo has since recovered, but he still faces many other challenges.
These include locating dry campsites and unobstructed spaces where Ringo can graze, finding a laundrette where Peter can wash his clothes, and sourcing fresh water.
Peter said he walks on foot for a third of the daily distance, which ranges from 20 to 25 miles, to give Ringo a break and, where possible, stops in a town to get something hot to eat or drink, charge his phone, and stock up on supplies and horse feed.
While the pair have a long journey left, Peter said he has met some “amazing” people who have been extremely kind and generous, and during times when he has felt isolated or lonely, he thinks of Hannah, and this motivates him to keep going.
He has seen some beautiful scenery and wildlife, encountering deer, turtles and terrapins, and is looking forward to reaching places such as Denver in Colorado.
His goal is to raise £1,000 for the charity Cystic Fibrosis Trust, as he hopes that, “if we keep fundraising, we will either find a cure or better treatments” for those living with CF.
He continued: “I’ve spent thousands of pounds of my own money.
“I could have just donated £1,000 and been done with it, but my aim is to raise £1,000.
“I wanted to do this trip because of the challenge behind it and to test myself… and I hope that by raising more money, we will hopefully find better treatments.”
Hannah’s parents, Peter and Annabelle, said: “We are completely overwhelmed that Peter should undertake such an incredible journey across America on horseback in memory of our dear Hannah and to raise funds for her charity.
“The effort he has put in to organising the trip has been immense and we really wish him all the very best.
“Hannah always put 100% effort into everything she did, in spite of her health issues, and Peter is certainly doing the same.
“Hannah raised money for CF through making cards, and painting trinket boxes and glassware to sell at our local CF sales; she was musical and artistic and planned to be a fashion designer.
“She was always cheery and had a smile that would brighten up the darkest day.”
To follow Peter’s journey, visit his blog – https://onemanandhishorse.com/ – or to donate, visit his fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Peter-Steel8
To find out more about Cystic Fibrosis Trust, visit www.cysticfibrosis.org.uk
