The Ride of Her Life: The True Story of a Woman, Her Horse, and Their Last-Chance Journey Across America

In the 1950s, “county homes” were homes for elderly people with little money and no place to live. When Annie Wilkins lost her farm due to debt and was diagnosed with cancer or tuberculosis, her local doctor, Dr. Cobb, offered her a place in the county home in Minot, Maine. However, Annie’s pride, sense of independence, and longing for adventure prompted her to reject this offer and take to the road instead.

An annual event in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Frontier Days celebrates the city’s pioneer roots and ranching culture. The event was an important part of Annie’s journey, as she was invited to participate in their Frontier Days parade alongside other horseback riders. She was thrilled to make it to Cheyenne in time for the parade and to be welcomed as a fellow horsewoman alongside Wyoming’s riders.

The small town of Minot, Maine, was the location of Annie’s family farm, where she lived for most of her life. In Minot, Annie enjoyed positive relationships with neighbors but was also the subject of small-town gossip because of her isolated, impoverished life on the farm. Annie set off from Minot on her journey across the country after rejecting offers of charity from her friends and doctor.