This is an account of a journey through western Ireland made in 1984 fulfilling a childhood dream of a long-distance ride. The story centres on the growing bond between the author & her Connemara pony Mollie & the many challenges that they face before the tragic conclusion in the mountains of Kerry. It is also a portrait of rural Ireland before the Celtic Tiger" era built up from conversations with the local people. The journey takes them through Counties Galway Mayo Clare & Kerry the obstacles to their progress ranging from bogs stone walls & the River Shannon. " Ive never tried hitchhiking with a horse before" comments the author. " Its not easy". She travelled with no set route extending her backpacking knowledge acquired in the Andes to horse packing "seeing the obvious advantage of climbing mountains on someone elses legs & using anothers back for the packing"."