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Tschiffely's Ride
Aimé Tschiffely had been teaching in an English-American school in Argentina for almost a decade when he conceived his astounding plan: to travel from Buenos Aires to New York—10,000 miles—on horseback. In April 1925, Tschiffely set out with two native Argentine horses, Mancho and Gato, and with rugged determination, the trio traversed the Pampas, scaled the Bolivian Andes, struggled through Peruvian sands, swam the crocodile-infested rivers of Columbia, and fought their way through the jungles of Panama. They crossed Central America through countries devastated by years of war to finally reach Washington D.C., followed by a reception in New York. The three had been together, exclusively, for more than two years; during that time, Tschiffely developed a remarkable relationship with his horses—an affinity that has seldom been equaled. This colorful account is a true classic of travel literature and perhaps one of the greatest animal stories ever written.
296 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1933
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About the author
Aimé Tschiffely
22 books13 followersAimé Félix Tschiffely was a Swiss-born, Argentine professor, writer, and adventurer. He wrote a number of books, most famously Tschiffely's Ride (1933) in which he recounts his solo journey on horseback from Argentina to Washington DC, an epic adventure that still marks one of the greatest horse rides of all time. Tschiffely was a household name in the United States during the 1930s, meeting with President Calvin Coolidge and appearing in National Geographic Magazine and earning a lucrative living from his popular book sales.
http://www.aimetschiffely.org/
http://www.aimetschiffely.org/
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
August 2, 2021
A very nice book about the incredible journey of Tschiffely and his two Criollo horses, Mancha and Gato, from Buenos Aires in Argentina to New York. It was a journey of over 10,000 miles done by him and the horses on foot where only twice the got on a short boat ride to circumvent trouble. The authors righting style is simple and easy to read and his descriptions of places, people and events are very enjoyable to read. Highly recommended if you are looking for a nice adventure book.
July 26, 2021
Telling of an incredible journey taking almost three years, covering ten thousand miles on horseback, undertaken by a Swiss school teacher, this is a book written in a remarkably simple style. Other reviewers suggested they had read it at school (or maybe while at school) and that makes sense with the writing - it is an easy read, and could quite conceivably be appreciated by younger readers. Having said that, I have just noted that the copy I have is an abridged version - which may account for the simplicity and the often abruptness - I hadn't noticed that discrete notation until now!
The simple style however can't detract from the story - which is quite incredible. Having lived in Argentina, where he worked as a teacher, the author dreamed up the idea of riding his two faithful horses to the USA (initially targeting New York, although in the end he stopped in Washington - mainly due to the actions of a number of car drivers in the USA).
Taking place in 1925 -27, the three Americas (South, Central and the United States of) all proved to be incredibly hospitable to the Swiss legend and his horses. Along his entire journey his reputation preceded him, and one of his bigger issues was how to extricate himself from celebrations after 3 or 4 days. Some towns planned a week long carnival extravaganza for his arrival, and to leave early would have been difficult.
Through an amazing array of terrains and conditions from deserts and jungle, heat, cold, rains, mud, sand, mountains and plains, his two Patagonian horses exceeded expectations and proved excellent at adapting. Tschiffely's close bond with his horses is apparent from his writing, and his ongoing concern for their well-being exceeds the concern he shows for his own.
From Argentina his route took in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and the USA.
There are many incidents, a huge number of people he meets and interacts with along the way, and many, many villages towns and cities he passes through - and he shares a glimpse of all of these with the reader. Only a glimpse at times, as he manages to condense such a massively long and complicated journey into a short book. Days would pass in the passage of a short paragraph, and weeks spent in towns for recovery were skipped over quite cleverly, never letting the exciting pace of the journey translate to the tedium that it in reality would have been at times.
As usual there were lots of sections that as I read I though 'better make a note of that page' as I really wanted to quote a few, but instead I committed the numbers to an already overworked memory. There survives only one short quote which amused me at a lot.
P111-12
...furthermore the horses were at times literally covered in wood ticks and other insects. I found that a mixture of Vaseline, sulphur, and camphor lightly applied to the coats of the horses, especially on the legs, gave excellent results, and I sponged myself every night with creosote diluted in water. In spite of this, I was often full of little red ticks called "coloradillas", which I picked up in the grass shrubbery where I had to graze the horses. The irritation these pests produced almost drove me crazy at times. Around the waist where the belt made pressure and rubbed, I was raw and bleeding. The perspiration running into these sores burnt so much that I had to apply distilled water with a six percent solution of cocaine, which temporarily had a soothing effect. Yeah I bet it did!
4 stars.
The simple style however can't detract from the story - which is quite incredible. Having lived in Argentina, where he worked as a teacher, the author dreamed up the idea of riding his two faithful horses to the USA (initially targeting New York, although in the end he stopped in Washington - mainly due to the actions of a number of car drivers in the USA).
Taking place in 1925 -27, the three Americas (South, Central and the United States of) all proved to be incredibly hospitable to the Swiss legend and his horses. Along his entire journey his reputation preceded him, and one of his bigger issues was how to extricate himself from celebrations after 3 or 4 days. Some towns planned a week long carnival extravaganza for his arrival, and to leave early would have been difficult.
Through an amazing array of terrains and conditions from deserts and jungle, heat, cold, rains, mud, sand, mountains and plains, his two Patagonian horses exceeded expectations and proved excellent at adapting. Tschiffely's close bond with his horses is apparent from his writing, and his ongoing concern for their well-being exceeds the concern he shows for his own.
From Argentina his route took in Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and the USA.
There are many incidents, a huge number of people he meets and interacts with along the way, and many, many villages towns and cities he passes through - and he shares a glimpse of all of these with the reader. Only a glimpse at times, as he manages to condense such a massively long and complicated journey into a short book. Days would pass in the passage of a short paragraph, and weeks spent in towns for recovery were skipped over quite cleverly, never letting the exciting pace of the journey translate to the tedium that it in reality would have been at times.
As usual there were lots of sections that as I read I though 'better make a note of that page' as I really wanted to quote a few, but instead I committed the numbers to an already overworked memory. There survives only one short quote which amused me at a lot.
P111-12
...furthermore the horses were at times literally covered in wood ticks and other insects. I found that a mixture of Vaseline, sulphur, and camphor lightly applied to the coats of the horses, especially on the legs, gave excellent results, and I sponged myself every night with creosote diluted in water. In spite of this, I was often full of little red ticks called "coloradillas", which I picked up in the grass shrubbery where I had to graze the horses. The irritation these pests produced almost drove me crazy at times. Around the waist where the belt made pressure and rubbed, I was raw and bleeding. The perspiration running into these sores burnt so much that I had to apply distilled water with a six percent solution of cocaine, which temporarily had a soothing effect. Yeah I bet it did!
4 stars.
March 1, 2018
It is striking and almost unbelievable to me that this work was rejected by publishers on three continents until the author was helped by the noted author Graham Greene in having this work published at last as the author despaired of ever telling his moving story about a lengthy trip he took on horseback from Buenos Aires north to Washington DC and New York. The book is credited, and deserves the credit, for blazing a trail in the long travels by horseback of later "long riders." While I am no great equestrian myself, I do appreciate compelling stories of travel and stories about horses and those who care for them [1], and this book is certainly a compelling narrative about a lengthy journey by horseback from a Swiss-Argentine who not only muses about the greatness of Argentine horses (about which he may be slightly biased) but also shows himself to be an observant and humane and deeply reflective traveler through the troubled countries of Latin America, which he observes with a great deal of insight and criticism. There is much in this book that is worthwhile even aside from the author's evident purposes and interest in proving the stamina of horses when treated with humane care.
Much of the appeal of this book's contents comes from a rare combination of the modesty as well as the observant nature of the author. In terms of its plot, the book consists of the occurrences and observations of a trip by horseback between Argentina and the United States, with a few interludes of boat travel in places like the Darien Gap which proved to be impassible. The author spends very little time talking about his travels in the United States because they did not present any sort of difficulty for him except for the quantity of traffic. He writes a lot about the logistics of traveling--finding forage and water for his horses, food and water and a place to sleep for himself and his occasional guides. He shows himself to be an observer of geography, the psychology of horses, and has a lot of criticism to make about the corrupt religious and civil authorities of many Latin American countries and the savagery they inflicted on the poorer and darker majorities of their countries. He is critical of the envious hatred of many Latin American elites towards the United States and is fond of pretty women, lovely views, the nobility of people and horses, and hospitable people when they can be found. Whether you are more interested in the journey itself or what the author sees along the way, or both, there is much to appreciate here.
In looking at this book from the standpoint of reading it decades later, it is baffling to me that this book was not recognized at its time by contemporary publishers as being a book of obvious excellence. The author details Latin America in the early 1920's as being filled with a great deal of injustice and seething with envy towards the United States and its power and wealth as well as with internal conflicts over various abuses within their own societies. The author manages to avoid fantastic and embellished accounts but there are parts of this book that are all the more horrifying in its discussion of economic backwardness and the immense violence directed at women and the poor, largely because the author's obvious (to this reader at least) compassion for both human and animals is judged as mawkish sentimentality by those who casually rape and murder their fellow citizens with impunity. Most readers, I imagine, will see in the abusive treatment of Latin American elites the fuel for the revolutionary fury that has filled the region periodically since then, and the authors matter of fact dealing with these concerns only makes this book a more important one in terms of its eyewitness account of life in Latin America during the early 1900's from an observant man traveling very slowly on horseback.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...
Much of the appeal of this book's contents comes from a rare combination of the modesty as well as the observant nature of the author. In terms of its plot, the book consists of the occurrences and observations of a trip by horseback between Argentina and the United States, with a few interludes of boat travel in places like the Darien Gap which proved to be impassible. The author spends very little time talking about his travels in the United States because they did not present any sort of difficulty for him except for the quantity of traffic. He writes a lot about the logistics of traveling--finding forage and water for his horses, food and water and a place to sleep for himself and his occasional guides. He shows himself to be an observer of geography, the psychology of horses, and has a lot of criticism to make about the corrupt religious and civil authorities of many Latin American countries and the savagery they inflicted on the poorer and darker majorities of their countries. He is critical of the envious hatred of many Latin American elites towards the United States and is fond of pretty women, lovely views, the nobility of people and horses, and hospitable people when they can be found. Whether you are more interested in the journey itself or what the author sees along the way, or both, there is much to appreciate here.
In looking at this book from the standpoint of reading it decades later, it is baffling to me that this book was not recognized at its time by contemporary publishers as being a book of obvious excellence. The author details Latin America in the early 1920's as being filled with a great deal of injustice and seething with envy towards the United States and its power and wealth as well as with internal conflicts over various abuses within their own societies. The author manages to avoid fantastic and embellished accounts but there are parts of this book that are all the more horrifying in its discussion of economic backwardness and the immense violence directed at women and the poor, largely because the author's obvious (to this reader at least) compassion for both human and animals is judged as mawkish sentimentality by those who casually rape and murder their fellow citizens with impunity. Most readers, I imagine, will see in the abusive treatment of Latin American elites the fuel for the revolutionary fury that has filled the region periodically since then, and the authors matter of fact dealing with these concerns only makes this book a more important one in terms of its eyewitness account of life in Latin America during the early 1900's from an observant man traveling very slowly on horseback.
[1] See, for example:
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2017...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...
https://edgeinducedcohesion.blog/2015...
September 18, 2016
I was sorry when the story ended. This is an adventure from start to finish. Aime Tschiffely accomplished what few thought possible. It took him almost 3 years to reach New York from Buenos Aires. He stopped along the way, sometimes for days and other times for up to 3 weeks. He was certainly accompanied by Lady Luck but not many could have made this journey. He planned it well, seemed to have money to help pave the way and knew how to chose top horses in Gato and Mancha, Criollo or Creole hoses of great stamina.
This book is easy to find on the internet or in an electronic form. This is my second time reading about the trek and I enjoyed it every bit as much the second read.
This book is easy to find on the internet or in an electronic form. This is my second time reading about the trek and I enjoyed it every bit as much the second read.
July 29, 2021
The most beautiful equestrian adventure. A true story about an Argentinian man and two hardy Criollo horses, Mancha and Gato. The trio are on a 10,000 mile journey from Argentina to New York. Mancha and Gato the Criollos are set free in the end ❤️
June 15, 2020
This book tells the story of one of the greatest horse rides of all time. Tschiffely’s 10,000 mile journey made him one of the most influential equestrian travel writers of his day. The trek took three years from 1925-1928. The author was 30—the Headmaster of a high school in Buenos Aires. Evidently, some of the local papers deemed his announced trip as impossible and “absurd.” The author got to know some of the local ranchers and decided on two Creole horses, which were descendants of horses brought to Argentina in 1535 by the founder of the city, Don Pedro Mendoza. So, the fitness and resilience of the horses was amply proven.
My interest in this trek was based on my own 15,000 mile trek after the Peace Corps when I embarked on a trip through eleven countries, starting from Guatemala all the way to Southern Chile and back, over a five-month period 45 years after Tschiffely’s trip; we passed through many of the same places. My trip was also by land, except my mode of transportation was bus, truck, and train plus an occasional taxi (although I needed a plane to get from Panama to Colombia while the author circumvented the Darien Gap with his two four-legged companions in a ferry.)
The author explained that he’d spent nine years in the English-American school in Argentina but he wanted variety: “I was young and fit; the idea of this journey had been in my ear for years, and finally I determined to make the attempt.” Almost as soon as he headed north from Buenos Aires, he passed some isolated communities like “Santiago del Estero,” where he realized that the dark thundercloud he saw coming his way was, in fact, an “invasion of locusts,” which formed a thick carpet, “every cactus plant and shrub was overhung with a grey mass…” and was a foreboding of additional surprises and adventures to come.
One situation I could appreciate was trying to get directions from the local population, “It is no use asking these people the way, for they have only one answer and will invariably reply, “sige derecho no mas” (just go straight ahead), although the trail may wind and twist though a regular labyrinth of deep canyons and valleys.”
Eventually, the author and his two steeds would make their way to the highest area of South America and the mining town of Potosi. This brought back memories of serious altitude sickness at 20,000 feet. The author often shared the local history and, in this case, the horrors of early Spanish Colonial days. Their mines where called “Socabon,” where the Spanish coat of arms was carved in the rocks over the entrance and an “estimated 20,000 Indians were driven into the darkness of this mine, and none who entered there ever saw daylight again.”
One delay that brought back memories was in the Andes mountains around Ayacucho where, “Landslides and swollen rivers made it impossible to follow the road and compelled me to make a large detour over the mountains to the west.” In my case, 45 years later, another landslide in the same area forced me to continue south through Peru to Chile and on my way back, I travelled through Cuzco on to Ayacucho, only to learn that the road had still not been cleared almost three months and six countries later, resulting in “Plan C” in order to reach Lima.
The author’s experience was even more harrowing, as he was forced to go over a bridge spanning a “wild river” which was, “like a long, thin rope, wire and fibre held the rickety structure together.” The floor was made of sticks laid crosswise and covered with some coarse fibre matting to give a foothold and to prevent slipping that would inevitably prove fatal.” This included walking across with his horses… “His weight shook the bridge so much that I had to catch hold of the wires on the sides to keep my balance….Once we started upwards after having crossed the middle, even the horse seemed to realize that we had passed the worst part, for now he began to hurry towards safety…”
As if this wasn’t dangerous enough, the author tells of a “mysterious disease” known as “verruga” which is usually fatal, and manifests itself in great swellings or boils.” The local “opinion varied as to its cause. Some said it was the water; others said it was in the air, while some blame insects.”
Fortunately, both the author and his steeds were not struck down by this local malady.
Another situation I could identify with was crossing from Ecuador into Colombia over a natural bridge called “Rumichaca” (Quechua for Stone Bridge), where customs officers “..wearing dirty clothes, stopped us and demanded to see my documents..” But this is where our experiences differed, as I was usually harassed and delayed with heavily armed, teenage guards looking for a bribe, but in Tschiffely’s case, “they had been advised of my arrival and treated me with courtesy.” Evidently, the British embassy did an excellent job of alerting the local authorities of the author’s arrival and he was treated as an honored guest.
One of the first places the author visited upon arriving in Guatemala was a relief map, which I’ve visited many times to get an idea where some of the isolated villages I worked in were located in relation to the rest of the country. “…This map is made to a 1/10,000 scale horizontally and 1/2,000 vertically. It is made of concrete, and running water marks the rivers, lakes and oceans.” The nuance in his case was, “…On my way back (to his hotel), the street car derailed, and the driver asked me to help him lift it back on the rails…”
The author visits the darker side of Guatemalan history, “While in this city (Guatemala City) I saw a man who had been kept in a dungeon below the San Francisco church for sixteen years. This happened during Cabrera’s time. Food and water were lowered through a hole to the prisoners below, and those who died were hoisted out through the same opening...” and he reveals that the prisoner’s mind was “slightly deranged.”
Fortunately, he didn’t miss one of the more spectacular places in the country, and possibly in all Latin America, “On reaching the summit of a high hill, after zigzagging higher and higher among the strong-smelling fir trees, I beheld, far below at our feet, Lake Atitlan. Its mirror-like surface of a deep blue reflected the surrounding mountains and the snow-white clouds that looked like huge airships. The lake is more than 4,500 feet above sea level, and rivals anything Switzerland has to offer.” (Which he knows well, as he was born in Bern, Switzerland).
He then took a short-cut from the lake into the Maya highlands and visited a village well known for its distain for outsiders, “…this trail led over mountains and was rough in parts, and we had to pass through the village of Nahuala, which I had been warned to avoid. It is inhabited exclusively by Indians, who will not tolerate the presence of a white man overnight. In Guatemala, as in most Central American countries, the sale of liquor is a State monopoly, but the Indians of Nahuala pay the government a certain sum each year for not sending alcohol into their district…”
Mexico would be the most receptive country to the author because of his two mounts, Mancha and Gato, who he dedicates his book to, “Mexicans are born horsemen and lovers of adventure and the open air, and therefore, our journey appealed to them. Without meaning to boast, I just add that, as a nation, they are the ones who best understood the significance and valued the merit of my undertaking and showed their appreciation accordingly.
Of all the banquets I have ever attended, the most brilliant and picturesque was given to me by the “Asociacion Nacional de Charros.” It was appropriately given in the Don Quixote Hall in one of Mexico’s finest hotels. The diplomatic corps was well represented, and all the participants who were charros wore the typical costumes of the different regions to which they belonged…”
And upon his departure from Mexico, “…To my surprise, crowds of mounted charros were assembled near the stables, ready to accompany me out of town for some ten miles, where, after many embraces and fervent handshakes, I sadly watched them disappear behind a cloud of dust…”
Tschiffely would continue his journey to Washington D.C. where he was received by President Coolidge in the White House. He was also honored by the National Geographic Society, which invited him to give the opening lecture to the Society in Washington.
After Ride, Tschiffely became a famous and successful author and moved with his wife, Violet, to London where he continued to write more books, one of which was a biography of his friend, Robert Cunninghame Graham, who wrote the preface for this book. In 1937, the author returned to South America and made another journey, by car, to the southern tip of the continent, recording his experiences among the natives and the changes brought on by modernity in This Way Southward (1940).
The book includes an excellent map, which plots this epic journey, as well as various photos. According to the New York Times, It is pretty certain that the crafty Ulysses, Marco Polo, or the indomitable Drake would have been hard put to keep up with Tschiffely. This is a heroic book.”
My interest in this trek was based on my own 15,000 mile trek after the Peace Corps when I embarked on a trip through eleven countries, starting from Guatemala all the way to Southern Chile and back, over a five-month period 45 years after Tschiffely’s trip; we passed through many of the same places. My trip was also by land, except my mode of transportation was bus, truck, and train plus an occasional taxi (although I needed a plane to get from Panama to Colombia while the author circumvented the Darien Gap with his two four-legged companions in a ferry.)
The author explained that he’d spent nine years in the English-American school in Argentina but he wanted variety: “I was young and fit; the idea of this journey had been in my ear for years, and finally I determined to make the attempt.” Almost as soon as he headed north from Buenos Aires, he passed some isolated communities like “Santiago del Estero,” where he realized that the dark thundercloud he saw coming his way was, in fact, an “invasion of locusts,” which formed a thick carpet, “every cactus plant and shrub was overhung with a grey mass…” and was a foreboding of additional surprises and adventures to come.
One situation I could appreciate was trying to get directions from the local population, “It is no use asking these people the way, for they have only one answer and will invariably reply, “sige derecho no mas” (just go straight ahead), although the trail may wind and twist though a regular labyrinth of deep canyons and valleys.”
Eventually, the author and his two steeds would make their way to the highest area of South America and the mining town of Potosi. This brought back memories of serious altitude sickness at 20,000 feet. The author often shared the local history and, in this case, the horrors of early Spanish Colonial days. Their mines where called “Socabon,” where the Spanish coat of arms was carved in the rocks over the entrance and an “estimated 20,000 Indians were driven into the darkness of this mine, and none who entered there ever saw daylight again.”
One delay that brought back memories was in the Andes mountains around Ayacucho where, “Landslides and swollen rivers made it impossible to follow the road and compelled me to make a large detour over the mountains to the west.” In my case, 45 years later, another landslide in the same area forced me to continue south through Peru to Chile and on my way back, I travelled through Cuzco on to Ayacucho, only to learn that the road had still not been cleared almost three months and six countries later, resulting in “Plan C” in order to reach Lima.
The author’s experience was even more harrowing, as he was forced to go over a bridge spanning a “wild river” which was, “like a long, thin rope, wire and fibre held the rickety structure together.” The floor was made of sticks laid crosswise and covered with some coarse fibre matting to give a foothold and to prevent slipping that would inevitably prove fatal.” This included walking across with his horses… “His weight shook the bridge so much that I had to catch hold of the wires on the sides to keep my balance….Once we started upwards after having crossed the middle, even the horse seemed to realize that we had passed the worst part, for now he began to hurry towards safety…”
As if this wasn’t dangerous enough, the author tells of a “mysterious disease” known as “verruga” which is usually fatal, and manifests itself in great swellings or boils.” The local “opinion varied as to its cause. Some said it was the water; others said it was in the air, while some blame insects.”
Fortunately, both the author and his steeds were not struck down by this local malady.
Another situation I could identify with was crossing from Ecuador into Colombia over a natural bridge called “Rumichaca” (Quechua for Stone Bridge), where customs officers “..wearing dirty clothes, stopped us and demanded to see my documents..” But this is where our experiences differed, as I was usually harassed and delayed with heavily armed, teenage guards looking for a bribe, but in Tschiffely’s case, “they had been advised of my arrival and treated me with courtesy.” Evidently, the British embassy did an excellent job of alerting the local authorities of the author’s arrival and he was treated as an honored guest.
One of the first places the author visited upon arriving in Guatemala was a relief map, which I’ve visited many times to get an idea where some of the isolated villages I worked in were located in relation to the rest of the country. “…This map is made to a 1/10,000 scale horizontally and 1/2,000 vertically. It is made of concrete, and running water marks the rivers, lakes and oceans.” The nuance in his case was, “…On my way back (to his hotel), the street car derailed, and the driver asked me to help him lift it back on the rails…”
The author visits the darker side of Guatemalan history, “While in this city (Guatemala City) I saw a man who had been kept in a dungeon below the San Francisco church for sixteen years. This happened during Cabrera’s time. Food and water were lowered through a hole to the prisoners below, and those who died were hoisted out through the same opening...” and he reveals that the prisoner’s mind was “slightly deranged.”
Fortunately, he didn’t miss one of the more spectacular places in the country, and possibly in all Latin America, “On reaching the summit of a high hill, after zigzagging higher and higher among the strong-smelling fir trees, I beheld, far below at our feet, Lake Atitlan. Its mirror-like surface of a deep blue reflected the surrounding mountains and the snow-white clouds that looked like huge airships. The lake is more than 4,500 feet above sea level, and rivals anything Switzerland has to offer.” (Which he knows well, as he was born in Bern, Switzerland).
He then took a short-cut from the lake into the Maya highlands and visited a village well known for its distain for outsiders, “…this trail led over mountains and was rough in parts, and we had to pass through the village of Nahuala, which I had been warned to avoid. It is inhabited exclusively by Indians, who will not tolerate the presence of a white man overnight. In Guatemala, as in most Central American countries, the sale of liquor is a State monopoly, but the Indians of Nahuala pay the government a certain sum each year for not sending alcohol into their district…”
Mexico would be the most receptive country to the author because of his two mounts, Mancha and Gato, who he dedicates his book to, “Mexicans are born horsemen and lovers of adventure and the open air, and therefore, our journey appealed to them. Without meaning to boast, I just add that, as a nation, they are the ones who best understood the significance and valued the merit of my undertaking and showed their appreciation accordingly.
Of all the banquets I have ever attended, the most brilliant and picturesque was given to me by the “Asociacion Nacional de Charros.” It was appropriately given in the Don Quixote Hall in one of Mexico’s finest hotels. The diplomatic corps was well represented, and all the participants who were charros wore the typical costumes of the different regions to which they belonged…”
And upon his departure from Mexico, “…To my surprise, crowds of mounted charros were assembled near the stables, ready to accompany me out of town for some ten miles, where, after many embraces and fervent handshakes, I sadly watched them disappear behind a cloud of dust…”
Tschiffely would continue his journey to Washington D.C. where he was received by President Coolidge in the White House. He was also honored by the National Geographic Society, which invited him to give the opening lecture to the Society in Washington.
After Ride, Tschiffely became a famous and successful author and moved with his wife, Violet, to London where he continued to write more books, one of which was a biography of his friend, Robert Cunninghame Graham, who wrote the preface for this book. In 1937, the author returned to South America and made another journey, by car, to the southern tip of the continent, recording his experiences among the natives and the changes brought on by modernity in This Way Southward (1940).
The book includes an excellent map, which plots this epic journey, as well as various photos. According to the New York Times, It is pretty certain that the crafty Ulysses, Marco Polo, or the indomitable Drake would have been hard put to keep up with Tschiffely. This is a heroic book.”
June 19, 2023
I loved this book as a kid in the 1960s. I got it out of the library many times to reread. Now I have an early copy of my own and it does not disappoint. .
Aime Tschiffely takes us from the initial idea he has in Buenos Aires, to find some native ponies and travel up through the Andes, cross the Central American countries, and end up in New York. They thought he was mad, of course. But he trusted in these hardy Argentine Pampas horses, named Gaucho and Mano. He planned, prepared, and made ready for nearly every eventuality.
It creates a magical picture of the hardships people went though in the 1930s. For the most part, Tschiffely camped out, or constructed a shelter when he couldn’t get the tent up in the pouring rain. Then there were the inns. Basically four walls, with or without roof, often shared with the animals. This had the benefit of ensuring nobody stole the horses in the night. Sometimes the pigs had been the previous occupants. Some larger villages had rest houses, which were rather like hostels, and occasionally, he met up with the gentry, who had heard of his adventure, and been alerted to look out for him. Then he was royally wined and dined, everybody celebrated his progress, with speechifying and parties all night, when all poor Tschiffely wanted to do was sleep!
He did get sick at times; the horses suffered their own mishaps, but somehow they made it through, thanks to both their own hardiness and the willingness of strangers to help.
The detail Tschiffely applies to his adventures with the country and people of S America in the 30s creates a huge impression. It’s really quite overwhelming. And the impressions of N America are as bad as I remember them. I’m glad I have my own copy to dip back into when I want.
Aime Tschiffely takes us from the initial idea he has in Buenos Aires, to find some native ponies and travel up through the Andes, cross the Central American countries, and end up in New York. They thought he was mad, of course. But he trusted in these hardy Argentine Pampas horses, named Gaucho and Mano. He planned, prepared, and made ready for nearly every eventuality.
It creates a magical picture of the hardships people went though in the 1930s. For the most part, Tschiffely camped out, or constructed a shelter when he couldn’t get the tent up in the pouring rain. Then there were the inns. Basically four walls, with or without roof, often shared with the animals. This had the benefit of ensuring nobody stole the horses in the night. Sometimes the pigs had been the previous occupants. Some larger villages had rest houses, which were rather like hostels, and occasionally, he met up with the gentry, who had heard of his adventure, and been alerted to look out for him. Then he was royally wined and dined, everybody celebrated his progress, with speechifying and parties all night, when all poor Tschiffely wanted to do was sleep!
He did get sick at times; the horses suffered their own mishaps, but somehow they made it through, thanks to both their own hardiness and the willingness of strangers to help.
The detail Tschiffely applies to his adventures with the country and people of S America in the 30s creates a huge impression. It’s really quite overwhelming. And the impressions of N America are as bad as I remember them. I’m glad I have my own copy to dip back into when I want.
September 26, 2015
It took me a full year to start and finish this book. Tschiffel was a simple school teacher and he did an amazing thing. Buenos Aires to New York.. Close to three years and over 10,000 miles on foot and in a saddle. And mostly alone. I am very glad I read it. Tschiffel's ride gave me a peek into many places I will never see..and certainly never see them as he did. His resolve impressed me greatly. I can not imagine the planning and changes of those plans that he had to make on his journey. I enjoyed his stories of the people he met. His entertainment. His friends. His mishaps and dangers. And his love of his horses, who kept him alive and were his constant companions. A Good read...
May 11, 2020
My father in law read this book years ago and couldn't stop talking about it. I finally read and glad I did. It's not your average travel adventure story and makes today's adventure travel stories sound more like 5-star vacations. This guy was prepared, resourceful, courageous. I didn't find out until after I read the book that he wasn't a horseman when he started. When you are done reading, there is a website dedicated to his life and travels. Also an excellent postscript that you do not want to miss.
July 11, 2018
Wonderful book. So glad I broke down and bought it since it wasn’t available through the library. Tells his story succinctly without long tangents about morals, ethics values etc. He does share his feelings but that is brief an to the point as well. Get to know the horses,too. They are important characters in the story as the man himself. He struggled to give them as good care as he was able to and sometimes they all went without together.
February 1, 2022
I fear when reviewing this kind of story there’s a danger of awarding stars for the author’s feat of endurance, rather than the book he wrote about it. Definitely five stars for the former, but I found the book rather repetitive and shallow. And some of the language made this sensitive 21st-century reader wince… the book is definitely from a different age and reveals a lot about the views of privileged white minority expats of the time.
June 25, 2016
Simple, muy simple. Y entretenido.
La lucha del viajero contra los insectos, el calor y la lluvia durante dos años.
Pero se ven muchas cosas -en 1920- que siguen igual, y también otras han cambiado. Instructivo libro sin pretensiones.
La lucha del viajero contra los insectos, el calor y la lluvia durante dos años.
Pero se ven muchas cosas -en 1920- que siguen igual, y también otras han cambiado. Instructivo libro sin pretensiones.
July 19, 2019
In 1925, A. F. Tschiffely decided to follow his dream. He planned his route, purchased supplies, and readied his two Criollo horses, Mancha and Gato, and set off to ride from Buenos Aires, Argentina to New York City-- a journey of over ten thousand miles. Most thought he was crazy. Scarcely anyone thought he would make it. The memoir he wrote about his experiences is a fascinating read.
The care Tschiffely took of his horses-- often having fodder sent ahead so the horses would be able to eat and keep up their strength-- warms the heart. Mancha and Gato weren't just his modes of transportation, they were his friends on what was often a very lonely journey. Not only that, but they also saved his life more than once.
His story of dealing with tremendous obstacles, both natural and manmade, and his travel through areas torn apart by war are mesmerizing, but what impressed me the most about this memoir is the man Tschiffely himself. His personality came shining through in his writing.
He didn't hold back when he felt strongly about something, whether it be watching his first bullfight or government officials who were more concerned with obtaining bribes than doing their jobs. He took advantage of his travels to see many archaeological sites and other places of interest, and he made friends all along his route.
Although he encountered danger countless times during his two-and-a-half-year trek, there are also humorous anecdotes that made me smile: his reaction to getting asked the same questions over and over and how much sleep he lost due to all the celebrations being held in his (exhausted) honor that he had to attend being two.
Tschiffely's observations of nature and the landscapes through which he traveled were vivid. Many times I felt as though I'd saddled up my own horse and was accompanying him. If there was any single disappointment in reading his memoir, it was the fact that he glossed over the last few months traveling through the United States. I completely agreed with the reasons why he did, but as a resident, I always like to learn visitors' reactions to my country.
Read it as the memoir of an incredible feat. Read it as a historical document of its day and age. Read it as an animal lover or as an adventure story aficionado. Tschiffely's Ride is the best sort of armchair travel, and I highly recommend it.
The care Tschiffely took of his horses-- often having fodder sent ahead so the horses would be able to eat and keep up their strength-- warms the heart. Mancha and Gato weren't just his modes of transportation, they were his friends on what was often a very lonely journey. Not only that, but they also saved his life more than once.
His story of dealing with tremendous obstacles, both natural and manmade, and his travel through areas torn apart by war are mesmerizing, but what impressed me the most about this memoir is the man Tschiffely himself. His personality came shining through in his writing.
He didn't hold back when he felt strongly about something, whether it be watching his first bullfight or government officials who were more concerned with obtaining bribes than doing their jobs. He took advantage of his travels to see many archaeological sites and other places of interest, and he made friends all along his route.
Although he encountered danger countless times during his two-and-a-half-year trek, there are also humorous anecdotes that made me smile: his reaction to getting asked the same questions over and over and how much sleep he lost due to all the celebrations being held in his (exhausted) honor that he had to attend being two.
Tschiffely's observations of nature and the landscapes through which he traveled were vivid. Many times I felt as though I'd saddled up my own horse and was accompanying him. If there was any single disappointment in reading his memoir, it was the fact that he glossed over the last few months traveling through the United States. I completely agreed with the reasons why he did, but as a resident, I always like to learn visitors' reactions to my country.
Read it as the memoir of an incredible feat. Read it as a historical document of its day and age. Read it as an animal lover or as an adventure story aficionado. Tschiffely's Ride is the best sort of armchair travel, and I highly recommend it.
September 27, 2025
One of the better travel books I have read, despite its simple, direct narrative style and the somewhat...distasteful opinions of the author. (Sounds like a regular ol' SJW at times, he does.) I can abide an opinionated travel writer when and if I respect him or her, and this describes my relationship with the irascible, judgmental Paul Theroux; however, except for riding a pair of horses ten thousand miles from Buenos Aires to Washington, D.C., Mr. Tschiffely has done nothing to earn my respect, so I found his opinions on the various things that he saw, even the ones I happen to marginally agree with, more annoying than helpful. He was best when he stuck to the bland, almost blasé descriptions of life in the saddle through South and Central America. Even the most perilous and harrowing of experiences are passed off with a blithe sentence or two. His courage and his skill with horses are beyond doubt or reproach, and I'm glad someone out there proved that a journey like this can be undertaken without cruelty to animals (or their needless deaths).
August 27, 2022
I’m a volunteer for a Riding for the Disabled group and every few years we take a group to Wales on holiday to a riding centre where they get to meet new horses and ride the safe trails around the grounds, it’s a great experience for them. In the dining area there is a book shelf where all proceeds from the sales go to the centre. We ransack it every time and find little gems like this, which felt very fitting for where we were. Now it’s taken a few years to finally get round to reading it and what a story. 10,000 miles with two horses over three years. I kind of find it astonishing that this took place in 1925, but also makes me wonder if he’d taken the trip now if he’d have got the same kindness and generosity from the places he stopped. Some of the scenes he describes are uncomfortable but of the era, in particular the bull and cock fights. It is simply told but what an epic adventure.
August 8, 2017
Amazing. Inspiring and frightening by turn.
NOT an adventure story-book. Rather the narrative account of a tremendous achievement. An adventure in fact.
The obstacles and wonders encountered. His love for his horses. The truthfulness regarding options of possible decisions along the way. Could or should he allow his horses to be the experimental trail-blazers, lest he become fouled by some hazard. Alternatively, if he took the chance himself, what would become of the horses with their packs and gear without him to free them? What would you do faced by a decaying 'ladder bridge' over a steep gorge?
The places, the people, the hazards the decisions are all still there for you to experience.
An amazing feat. A read at which to wonder.
My copy is one of the original hard backs, read more than once. Used as a reference book and treasured.
NOT an adventure story-book. Rather the narrative account of a tremendous achievement. An adventure in fact.
The obstacles and wonders encountered. His love for his horses. The truthfulness regarding options of possible decisions along the way. Could or should he allow his horses to be the experimental trail-blazers, lest he become fouled by some hazard. Alternatively, if he took the chance himself, what would become of the horses with their packs and gear without him to free them? What would you do faced by a decaying 'ladder bridge' over a steep gorge?
The places, the people, the hazards the decisions are all still there for you to experience.
An amazing feat. A read at which to wonder.
My copy is one of the original hard backs, read more than once. Used as a reference book and treasured.
October 19, 2022
A memoir written in the early 1900s by a high school teacher who rode on horseback from Argentina to Washington D. C., a distance of about 10,000 miles.
I found this book really interesting for a number of reasons. The 1920s were a major time of change, and many countries in South America were going through political, social, educational, and infrastructure changes. There were also many geographical dangers along the way that we wouldn't normally think about. More than anything, I fell in love with his Argentinian Criollo horses! They were hardy, intelligent horses who were with Tschiffely the whole way, and this story is also about them.
Tschiffely's Ride has impacted many long-distance rides since then. The author is an excellent writer. Anyone who enjoys history, memoirs, horses, adventure, endurance rides, and South America would love this book!
I found this book really interesting for a number of reasons. The 1920s were a major time of change, and many countries in South America were going through political, social, educational, and infrastructure changes. There were also many geographical dangers along the way that we wouldn't normally think about. More than anything, I fell in love with his Argentinian Criollo horses! They were hardy, intelligent horses who were with Tschiffely the whole way, and this story is also about them.
Tschiffely's Ride has impacted many long-distance rides since then. The author is an excellent writer. Anyone who enjoys history, memoirs, horses, adventure, endurance rides, and South America would love this book!
December 28, 2019
The author, admitting of not being a writer, did a wonderful job of presenting this very interesting adventure reading for us, his audience. Quite easy to read and hard to put down as he examined his travels, viewed historical sites and ruins, and brought them to us in just enough details as not to drag on. Amie' moves you through his interesting travels without much pause, as to keep the reader engaged. I enjoyed highlighting many of the sites and ruins so I may explore them further on my own. Five stars due to it just being amazing adventure and the easy reading flow of the book. For historic adventure readers, this is another story you will want to add to your reading library.
August 6, 2023
A fascinating story about Tschiffely and his two horses Mancha and Gato who trek from Buenos Aires to Washington DC. in 1925. They cover all sorts of wild and dangerous terrain and meet folks from many cultures and walks of life. Tschiffely tells this true story in a matter-of-fact and understated way. Dangerous rivers, treacherous mountain passes, arid deserts, war torn countries, horrible food and elegant feasts, sketchy and crazy people, the poor, the rich, country to country, he encounters all sorts of situations. Really enjoyable.
March 2, 2018
Great description of an oddysey
As apt now as when it was written. First heard of this book in Engenes "Man and Horse" Thanks to Muriwai Books for keeping this description of a fascinating journey
in circulation. I highly recommend reading this tale of amazing fortitude and a look at South America Central America and Mexico as it once was.
As apt now as when it was written. First heard of this book in Engenes "Man and Horse" Thanks to Muriwai Books for keeping this description of a fascinating journey
in circulation. I highly recommend reading this tale of amazing fortitude and a look at South America Central America and Mexico as it once was.
May 22, 2019
Great adventure! A very good and fast read. Enjoy the adventure very much, timeless. One-of-a-kind venture from South America to North America. You will enjoy this book very very much
can't think of anything more to say the book was a very good read, especially if you like horses and travel. It would be interesting to see if they could do this trip now
can't think of anything more to say the book was a very good read, especially if you like horses and travel. It would be interesting to see if they could do this trip now
January 20, 2024
Very interesting story of an amazing journey. As with other books of this time, it reveals the mindset of a superior, prejudiced, but sympathetic writer. He saves his greatest concern for his horses! His description of the devastation left by the European colonizers and especially by alcohol is heartbreaking. I feel like I need to read about these areas now to see how they're doing.
May 29, 2017
A real eye-opener, intimately describing the Americas in a new light, people and places, culture and conflict. A classic - without a doubt this is a book that every American should read, North and South.
November 14, 2019
My
Fabulous story, good map. Swell fellow.,freak
Fabulous story, good map. Swell fellow,, good horseman. Two tough ponies well fed, cared for and adored. Can really relate to this author. Kindred spirit!
Fabulous story, good map. Swell fellow.,freak
Fabulous story, good map. Swell fellow,, good horseman. Two tough ponies well fed, cared for and adored. Can really relate to this author. Kindred spirit!
December 5, 2019
Read this to our kids when they were younger. Fascinating account of perseverance and solace. It's a great reminder of the spoils of life we enjoy and how little we need to survive. Humans are capable of so much more than we realize.
This might be my new retirement plan - jk.
This might be my new retirement plan - jk.
August 4, 2025
This book is just the best travel book. You feel everything Tschiffely goes through in the story, you feel the love for his horses as they go through thick and thin, and you admire his resourcefulness and toughness and character.
May 24, 2018
Riding ten thousand miles
If this trip were to be tried today the rider would not make it with a the crime and change in people.
A very enjoyable book and well written.
If this trip were to be tried today the rider would not make it with a the crime and change in people.
A very enjoyable book and well written.
January 26, 2019
Excepcional relato contado por quien realizó la épica travesía de las Américas junto con los caballos criollos argentinos : Gato y Mancha.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 17, 2019
10,000 miles on horseback in three years 100 years ago. Amazing story.
May 23, 2019
print was to small, would like to read it if i could find it in large print or an ebook
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