The History of Wilderness Pursuit Horseback Adventures
Hello!I’m Brianna Oberle, and horses have been part of my life for as long as I can remember. Growing up, I was lucky enough to live out every little cowgirl’s dream, helping my grandparents with their business, Wilderness Pursuit (WP). Today, I’m proud to carry on that legacy, running WP alongside my family and working to keep it thriving for generations to come.
Our StoryWilderness Pursuit began with my grandmother, Lynette, whose love for horses started on a dairy farm where she rode the family’s draft horses. After getting her first riding horse, there was no turning back. Horses eventually brought her and my grandpa, Larry, together, and they built a life in the saddle—breeding and raising exceptional Arabians and competing in endurance rides across the Midwest throughout the 1970s.
In 1982, they turned that passion into a business and opened Wilderness Pursuit. Using seasoned endurance and trail horses, they guided clients through the Clark County Forest near their home. Their overnight trips to Dam #2 became a tradition—15-mile rides with tents and gear packed in, horses tied on lead lines at night, and evenings spent around the fire. It was a true family effort, with everyone playing a role.
In the 1990s, they expanded west to a ranch in Wyoming’s Black Hills, hauling horses from Wisconsin several times a year for cattle work, trail rides, and hunting trips—all while continuing life and work back home. By the late ’90s, they added cabins, a lodge, and gathering spaces in Wisconsin, welcoming youth groups and families to experience life with horses firsthand.
I grew up in the middle of it all, alongside my siblings and cousins—riding, helping, and learning every day. Over time, I developed the same deep connection to this lifestyle that my grandma has always had.
In 2021, a tornado tore through our property and nearly ended Wilderness Pursuit. It was devastating, but with the help of family and friends, we rebuilt and continue to restore what was lost—something that has taken an incredible amount of hard work and determination.
Today, I’m proud to carry on what my grandparents started, running Wilderness Pursuit with the help of my husband, Josh, and the rest of our family. While my grandma has passed the reins on to me, her guidance and influence remain part of our daily operations.
Wilderness Pursuit is, and always has been, a family effort. Together, we care for a herd of horses that includes seasoned trail horses, young stock, and retired seniors who have earned their place here. We’ve also begun breeding again, bringing back some of the original bloodlines that helped shape our program. Many of our older horses are the same ones I learned to ride on, which makes what we do here even more meaningful.
