Cowboys Cruising Cross-Country

By now they’re probably somewhere near Huntington,Texas. Two men and two horses trekking the wooded gateway to Lake Sam Rayburn as they ride on, bound for Alamosa County in Mosca,Colo. Just last Friday, Richard Mills and Josh Campbell rode into Eunice on horseback from Indiana, by way of Kentucky, Tennesse, Mississippi, eastern Louisiana, Morgan City and Church Point. They made for an interesting sight on La. Highway 13 as they moseyed along on Tommy, a massive mustang with a winter coat, and Nikki, a quarter-horse mare. Mills, the older of the two men, looked as if he might have ridden off the set of Lonesome Dove as he dismounted his mustang in a designated parking spot at The Eunice News. “We came from a little town called Elizabeth, Indiana,” said Mills. “Josh started to ride, he did, and got all the way to Morgan City and I joined up with him there in Morgan City. And then we’re riding the rest of the way to Colorado.” Campbell could’ve been mistaken for Billy The Kid with glasses. He said that he started this quest for Colorado back on Nov. 7, 2013. “It’s a good experience and a good adventure,” said Campbell. “I’m very big on adventures, rather than sitting in front of a TV and it’s for a good cause. So, whatever helps the rescue. And I’ve learned that casinos don’t take kindly to horseback riders.” These are modern men of adventure, men with a mission, men with a Facebook page and business cards that read: “Ride To Rescue Buck Creek”– which in itself sounded like the name of a Western starring Robert Duvall. Mills said that Buck Creek Valley is the organization back home that is dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating neglected and abused horses, some of which the men rode past while traveling up Highway 13 and through Louisiana. “We survive off of donations,” said Mills. “We’ve got a Facebook page that you could follow us from day one. We did a 900-mile ride last July. Now, 900 miles by car isn’t so bad, but by horseback it’s really 900 miles.” Stopping for refreshments and to take an inventory of their Marlboros, Campbell and Mills clip-clopped across Eunice, crossing Highway 190 as they started their way westbound down Laurel Avenue into the sunset. A Wednesday call to Mills’ cell phone revealed that the duo had been stuck in Jasper, Texas – where they were waiting on a horseshoer. Mills said that his mustang had blown a shoe in Jasper. Mills encourages Eunice folks to trail them to their final destination in Mosca for a huge BBQ fund raiser event. He said that donations can be made through their Facebook page. Follow the adventures of the two cowboys from Indiana, riding to rescue horses at https://www.facebook.com/RideToRescueBuckCreek