Journey of a Lifetime

Over 650 miles on Horseback from the Kansas/ Oklahoma Border to the Gulf of Mexico

By Sharisa Nelson

  What started as a quest to see the Red River just at the Oklahoma and Texas border, has turned into a more fascinating journey, a journey of a lifetime. Traveling down to the Gulf of Mexico from the Kansas/ Oklahoma border on horseback. On Monday, January 13th, Sean Herren-35 of Blackwell, Oklahoma has traveled over 650 miles from the Kansas/ Oklahoma border down to the Gulf of Mexico in Crystal Beach, TX. He has been traveling on horseback with his horses Odyssey and Storm since October 14th. 

  Sean set out on this journey to prove to himself and others that nothing is impossible with God in your life. His story begins at the age of two, when he survived a near death experience at the factory that his parents worked at in Blackwell, OK. Sean was playing outside and had gotten into the fence that housed three transformers. He placed one hand on the transformer and quickly became part of the electric circuit. When his father had found him, Sean appeared to be dead, and his father rescued him from the circuit by using a gate to push him off. Sean said, “Master electricians and doctors said it was impossible for me to survive after I was electrocuted by 8,333 volts.” He spent months in the hospital and after extensive test and examinations, the doctors realized his right arm had been burnt severely on the inside resulting in complete amputation and his left arm’s growth plates, nerves, and muscles had been destroyed by the heat from the electricity. Sean’s left arm is kind of normal, but his forearm is short and his hand is small. His fingers have no muscle to move, so everything he does is manipulation. The doctors also reported that with the amount of electricity going through his head, the heat would cause his brain to be a vegetable for the rest of his life. No one ever expected Sean to be a normal kid, living a normal life after this traumatic, near-death accident. 

  Sean began to recover. He was walking, talking, doing all the physical things a normal toddler does, reaching milestones, and began school like his peers. His parents and teachers were amazed that he was actually advanced in his studies. He did lack in social skills. It was hard for him to make friends because he wasn’t like the other kids. After several years, he began to dislike school, didn’t talk to any of his peers, and began to act out. As a teenager depression began to set in. Sean said, “I didn’t get along with my parents or my younger sister and I had no hope for my life.” He started thinking he would never amount to anything in his condition and suicidal thoughts began to creep in. “One day I was looking at the rifle that is hanging on the wall of my bedroom and I stared at it for two hours. I was thinking if there was anything else I needed to do, like write a letter, but I just stared for two hours. Then the thought crossed my mind, what if there is a God and that God loves me” Sean shared. He decided to give God two weeks. Two weeks of screaming out loud, shouting, and having lots of hatred in his heart. Then at two weeks, “I could feel something, someone is listening to me, listening to me spiritually,” explained Sean. Sean began to have a conscious connection with God. His faith and hope for life had done a complete 180 degree. Sean continued to seek God and his relationship grew. He began to share this new hope with his friends and members of the community. Sean’s pastor invited him to go on Mission Trips to the Philippines five times, Brazil, Columbia twice, Zimbabwe, and India. Sean was also a youth pastor. 

  In July of 2024, a family of four on six horses was crossing from ocean to ocean and stopped in Sean’s hometown. At first, he thought this was impossible. Then the training of Odyssey, his 6 year old Tennessee Walker gelding, and Storm, his 4 year old Tennessee Walker mare, began. “I spent three months, about 50-60 hours a week preparing my horses and studying all kinds of tips and tricks. Then I spent another three months preparing plans and routes for my trip from the Kansas/ Oklahoma border to the Red River at the Oklahoma/ Texas border,” Sean stated. “Once I arrived at the Red River, I felt at peace and knew I needed to continue my journey. I decided to travel to the Gulf of Mexico.” After three months on horseback, over 650 miles, over 1,000 of Facebook and TikTok followers, countless new friends that have opened their homes and barns to Sean and the horses, he has completed his journey. Jordyn Tatar of Sherman, TX, a new lifelong friend and planner of Sean’s trip through Texas said, “It has been a wild ride helping him navigate through Texas from families to stay with and roads to travel, but I’ve gained a best friend and I am so thankful to have been a part of his journey.” Sean’s parents Mark and Dessie Herren were able to see him ride down to the beach on Monday and were overjoyed with their son’s accomplishments. Dessie shared, “As parents we have been supporting Sean and excited that he’s doing something that most people couldn’t endure. God has put amazing people in his path and we are so thankful. Once again, Sean has amazed us!” 

  Sean announced Monday after he left his, Odyssey, and Storm’s footprints on the beach, he is now beginning his next journey. He will attempt to cross the entire United States from border to border, Gulf of Mexico to Canada, roughly 1,800 miles. You can follow Sean on his Facebook – Sean Herren or TikTok – America’s Amputee.