Equestrienne Samantha Szesciorka discusses her solo ride across Nevada at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Saturday, May 31, in a free public presentation.
In the summer of 2013, Szesciorka embarked on the Nevada Discovery Ride, a 452-mile solo journey by horse across Nevada to encourage wild horse adoption. From the Utah border to Reno she battled wild weather, wild terrain, and wild animals. Her presentation is an entertaining and educational look at the challenges of the trail and the hidden beauty of Nevada. An avid equestrienne with nearly twenty years of experience, Samantha is an associate member of the Long Riders’ Guild. She is also the Assistant Curator at the Wilbur D. May Museum in Reno.
Szesciorka’s lifelong love for animals and her love of long riding led her to plan the first Nevada Discovery Ride in 2010. She was awed and humbled to ride close to wild herds of mustangs in the mountains around Reno, but saddened to learn that many languish in holding facilities because they are not being adopted. The ride was her way to show what great riding horses mustangs make, and to encourage their adoption, and a 1000-mile trip is in the planning stages for 2015.
“Samantha’s passion for horses and riding is inspiring,” said Park Curator Mark Jensen. “We’re glad she’s coming to share her adventures with other Carson Valley horse lovers and land explorers.”
The free, hour-long, outdoor presentation begins at 10 a.m. Seating will be available, but visitors are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs for greater comfort.
Other speakers in this year’s series are Holly-Walton Buchanan, author of Land of the Buckaroo: Historic Ranches of Western Nevada on June 28; Dick Davies talking about the history of boxing in Nevada on July 12; and a group of local artisans demonstrating techniques and equipment for fiber arts on July 26.
Former Nevada state treasurer Patty Cafferata and her daughter Elisa will talk about Patty’s mother Barbara Vucanovich on August 2; Kim Copel will present a Chautauqua of stagecoach driver Charlie Parkhurst on August 23; Dr. Anita Watson will portray Virginia City pioneer Mary McNair Mathews in a Chautauqua on September 6; historian Ronald James discusses his book on Virginia City on September 27; and Patty Cafferata returns on October 11 for a discussion of her book on Christmas in Nevada.
The park is located at 1450 Highway 88, about ¾ mile south of the Carson Valley Swim Center. The full schedule for the Ferris Family Speaker Series and other events at the park is at dangberghomeranch.org.
The Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park is the 2012 and 2013 Reno-Tahoe Territory winner of the Nevada Commission on Tourism’s “Discover Your Nevada” contest. The site preserves the home of Heinrich F. Dangberg and his descendants. The Dangbergs were a prominent ranching family in Carson Valley history and founded Minden in 1905. The site includes eight historic structures built between 1857 and 1917, along with a collection of 39,000 artifacts, documents and photographs acquired and used by the Dangberg family. Programs include tours, exhibits and other public events. The park is operated by Friends of Dangberg Home Ranch, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, in cooperation with Douglas County.
