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Catherine Hunter Rides for Peace
by Kristalyn Bunyan
Catherine Hunter and Count-of-War
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Loading her horse with a couple of packs, Catherine Hunter set out on October 25 from Gowensville, SC to ride for peace.
She is inspired to ride her horse, Count of War, an 18 year-old chestnut-colored thoroughbred, throughout the country. Count of War is named for a famous racehorse named Man o'War. Count of War has also been in movies. Hunter has raised him and his mother for 29 years.
This quite spontaneous horse trainer, freelance writer, and Civil War reenactor, came through Mars Hill on her journey. She conquered many health problems before attempting this journey. From age 19 to 34 she suffered from chronic health problems such as a broken neck, degenerating disk problems, and chronic fatigue. At some points she was a semi-invalid. The reoccurrence of her fatigue problem is still a significant fear.
Nonetheless at the age of 45, Hunter is following her inspiration to advocate peace. Asked what she hopes to achieve through her actions, she responded, "Whatever the Creator wants me to do." She says she is "being guided by the creator…the divine does not operate by human laws and standards."
From the divine perspective, Hunt stated her reasons for possibly being chosen to lead this journey, "God, Creator chooses someone who does not have an attachment to so something."
Since her journey began, Hunter has been graciously provided with accommodations for her and Count of War. This has eliminated her original fears of what she would do for food, money, and dislike of the cold. "The support is phenomenal… businesses gave equipment for the ride…new acquaintances loaned me a vehicle…people opened their houses and hearts and gave me a place to stay."
Hunter is not a prophet, but she feels that her words come through the divine. She is so absorbed in this cause and the divine that she usually doesn't know what day it is. She says, "I lost track of time when I didn't have to go to work." Hunter bases the time of the day simply on the sun and eats when she is hungry.
Though she has forgotten what time it sometimes is, she has not shed the "go to work feeling." "I feel like I am supposed to be somewhere." Hunter hopes this will eventually go away.
As for what she will do in the very distant future, she said she would like to live in a cabin in the mountains and write books. Other than that, she replied, "I don't know."
For her immediate future, after speaking in Asheville she is planning to go to Boone, then travel through Winston-Salem. She will take 29 to Lynchburg, Virginia, then go to Arlington Cemetery and on to Washington D.C. where she will visit the Vietnam Wall. From there she and her horse will visit the 911 site in New York.
During her stops, Hunter passes out flyers, mingles with people, and gives speeches. She recently spoke at the Rotary Club meeting held on the campus of Mars Hill College, and she gave a speech on Women and War Zones at the University of North Carolina at Asheville. .
On her travels she wears black to support Women in Black, a worldwide organization that holds silent vigils to support victims of violence.
Hunter emphasizes that this is not a political protest but a spiritual journey.
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