How far you would get on horseback in a day if you were traveling?

Question

Trying to write a story and need to figure out how long someone would travel to get to a certain place.

Answer 1

Anywhere from 25-45 miles, if you weren't pushing your horse too hard.

Answer 2

Pulling a wagon in the 1850s one could expect, at best, to cover 20 miles. Using only a horse, however, one could expect to cover 30-40 miles, at best. Things were not always at their best. In the 1800s one could expect to encounter gullies, rivers, valleys, mountains, sand, getting lost, snakes, Native Americans, hunger, thirst .... you name it.

The story was often said that the 21 California Missions were established one day's journey apart. Some of them, however, are upwards of 60 miles apart and there is no way, even with a horse, that one could travel that far in one day.

However, (don't you love that word?) the Pony Express in the early 1850s, but trading horses, could cover over 100 miles in a single day! They traded horses and this was not typical. Also, there are several races in California in which a rider, or two, walk and run, with a horse, in a race. Often the runners do as well at a long distance as do the horses. They can cover close to or over 100 miles in a single day.

Answer 3

All the answers are correct.

depends on such as the weather, how cold or hot.

The condition of the trail and such are very, very important as is access to feed and water.

Also add in uphill and downhill and for such as the US Cavalry: how "fresh" the mounts, horse are, how well 'trained"
they are and how good are the riders, most US Cavalry movements were well: ride, then walk, then rest, water, feed, then walk, then ride and repeat the same again, and again.

I am talking dawn to dusk: with long breaks everyday.

"Back East' the roads were a real concern: holes, mud, water, and such.

In the American West: the "wild west" trails, roads were placed to allow for access to water and such.

Twenty miles on "beans and Hay' was well a motto and Army song. Also the speed available to a wagon with feed and water was maxed out about 20 miles:

Answer 4

Horses have a limit of about 30 miles a day. But if you have a fresh mount waiting for you, you could ride another 30. I seriously doubt most people would want to be on a horse longer than that, due to the fact that riding is work (it's not a passive activity) and saddles are only so comfortable.

Answer 5

Well I would fall off for sure in a few meters ;-)

Hope your story turns out well and the rider would get further than me.