Three years ago, I was fortunate to see the film, En Selle: The Kyrgyz Ride, when it was screened in Ashley Parsons' hometown of Mobile. It was an incredible tale of Ashley and her partner, Quentin Boehm’s, travels on horseback on the Ancient Silk Road, a 1600 kilometer (994 miles) journey through the mountains and steppes of Kyrgyzstan.

Their newest film, Le Sabot Montagnard, translated as Mountain Hoof, was screened at the Crescent Theater in Mobile on Sunday March 22 and I was thrilled to see the sequel. Both films have won numerous awards at European Film Festivals and Ashley and Quentin were present for a Q and A afterwards.

The two riders filmed their journeys using drones, go pros and had a videographer travel with them for a few weeks during the seven month “ slow travel “ on foot and horseback  where they passed through Poland, Slovakia, Austria, Italy, and Switzerland, to return to their home at the foot of Mont Blanc in France. The scenery was so gorgeous and the story of their relationships with their 3 horses, Brando, Chai and Fidel, was a testament to their deep connection with the animals, the landscapes and people they encountered along the way.

In a nutshell, after months of planning, in 2021 they went to Kyrgyzstan and they acquired three stallions, who they rode for 1,600 kilometers through the country. Over the course of the journey, the horses became trusted companions, and important members of their family. When the two finished their trip and returned home to France, Parsons and Boehm left the horses in the care of a friend but couldn’t stop thinking about them and decided to go and get them and ride back home to France. With funding from sponsors, crowdfunding and French Television deals, they were able to make 2 documentaries while bringing their adventurous dreams to fruition.

How did Ashley get to France and become a bi lingual, equestrian adventurer, writer and filmmaker, you may ask. She grew up in West Mobile, her mother Becky, operated the Mobile Equestrian Center, where she was completely surrounded by horses and riders. She went to St Paul's Episcopal School, and then was home schooled so that she could have more time for traveling to horse competitions. 

At Birmingham Southern, her coach and trainer Gerard Kirsh, who was French, encouraged her to study abroad in France. Earning her degree in International Studies and French from BSC, she moved to France permanently and taught English before getting her masters degree from American University in Paris. After 3 years, she was getting restless and as fate intervened, she met Quinten. They both realized that they wanted to live their lives outside in nature and travel. After much research, they realized they could travel on horseback and here they are with two documentary films and life changing experiences under their belts.

Ashley also combines her love of travel with writing, and is a journalist for popular adventure media outlets such as Lonely Planet, Les Others, Komoot, Atlas Obscura, Fodor’s Travel,  and Sidetracked Mag. She is also a new mother, with a 3 month old baby boy named Leon, along for the ride. 

When an audience member asked her what’s next for her, she replied, “ As soon as the baby can hold his head up, he can travel with us in a saddlebag made especially for babies so we will see! “  

Viewers can stream the first Documentary, En Selle: The Kyrgyz Ride on You Tube and the sequel should be distributed soon. For an incredible arm chair adventure, featuring beautiful scenery, harrowing moments, and introductions to fascinating people, see these films and you will be proud of the accomplishments of this amazing young woman and wish that you, too, could travel by horseback across Europe!