Thomas Westin’s “The Long Hard Ride” Traces an Eleven-Year Journey

What begins as a restless young Army veteran walking out of Rapid City with a backpack becomes an eleven-year quest across the American West in Thomas Westin’s “The Long Hard Ride: Journey of Self Discovery and Faith.” Published by The Ewings Publishing LLC, the memoir follows the formative opening years of Westin’s journey, from a mid-December departure through months of snow, hunger, odd jobs, and unexpected hospitality, then into a new life on the trail with a young sorrel horse named Hank, a strong-willed gray mule named Outlaw, and a wary yellow dog he calls Festus.

Westin does not cast himself as an expert hero. He writes openly about how little he knew, how badly he wanted recognition, and how grief, bullying, fear, and what he later understood as post-traumatic stress shaped his decisions. That candor gives the book its deepest tension. Each mile forces him to choose between pride and patience, toughness and trust, escape and accountability.

The journey delivers frontier-scale episodes: a five-month, eleven-day trek to Midland, Texas; newspaper attention in New Mexico; ranch and carpentry work traded for food and shelter; and lessons from farriers, cowboys, horse trainers, homesteaders, and working families. Westin survives a close grizzly encounter near a Colorado hunting lodge and a Christmas blizzard that leaves him lost and exhausted for days before a ranch family finds him. Yet some of the most memorable moments come through kindness. A hotel keeper offers a warm room, a meal, and a Bible. Strangers provide work instead of judgment. His animals teach him to pay attention before trying to control what he does not understand.

In the Rocky Mountains, Westin meets Lilly, an older wilderness woman who teaches him to forage, care for his animals, and see service as the purpose of survival. Her advice, “Living is to serve and do good,” becomes a turning point in a story increasingly concerned with humility, faith, and the meaning of manhood.

“The Long Hard Ride” will appeal to readers of memoir, the American West, equine and canine companionship, outdoor survival, veterans’ experiences, and faith-centered personal growth. Its value lies in the combination of high-stakes adventure and honest self-examination. Westin records his mistakes as carefully as his victories and credits the people and animals who carried part of the journey with him. In the foreword, author Allen Jack “Dakota Jack” Kleinsasser calls the book “a must-read real true story for all ages.”

Born in Rapid City, South Dakota, in 1954, Thomas C. Westin grew up around animals as the son of a herpetologist. He joined the Army after the devastating 1972 Rapid City flood, rose to the rank of sergeant, and was injured in a grenade simulator accident during a field exercise. The 2025 edition of “The Long Hard Ride” has received numerous positive reviews and is available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats through Amazon and other major online booksellers.

Why this book is a Must.

The book brings several audiences into the same story. It is a candid personal memoir, a first-person account of the American West, an animal companionship narrative, and a faith-centered examination of service.

Westin’s willingness to record mistakes alongside accomplishments gives the journey credibility. Its route, regional detail, close calls, and relationships with Hank, Outlaw, and Festus also give the book strong visual and human-interest appeal.

Cover of Thomas Westin’s “The Long Hard Ride: Journey of Self Discovery and Faith,” a memoir of an eleven- year search for purpose, faith, and a truer understanding of strength.

Contact Information

April Andrews

FulFillment Officer

The Ewings Publishing

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