Louis D. Hall on riding to the end of the land

In his mid-twenties, city-bound and restless, Louis D. Hall decided to make an uncharted journey on horseback.

He found his horse, Sasha, in Italy’s Apennine Mountains and headed west for ‘the end of the land’.

Man and horse negotiated untrodden partisan paths in the Ligurian Alps, surviving storms, snow and rampaging wolves, until their solitary world was broken by the arrival of a young woman cast adrift by the death of her sister.

They continued together, united by the mysteries of the horse. With every step and every fall, the two are forced to trust in their horses and, eventually, each other.

In Green is a classic adventure story and a wonderful travel writing debut. I think you’ll enjoy it.

Louis D. Hall is the author of In Green: Two Horses, Two Strangers, a Journey to the End of the Land. His work has appeared in The Guardian, National Geographic and The Scotsman. He’s also the founder of The Big Hoof, a Scottish charity that that facilitates healing journeys though long-distance horse treks.

You can read more about him on his website, and follow him on Instagram.

We spoke about crossing the Ligurian Alps, the mysteries of the horse, and the kindness of strangers.

These are the books we mentioned in the podcast:

• In Green: Two Horses, Two Strangers, a Journey to the End of the Land

We also mentioned:

• Don Quixote

• The Big Hoof

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