WINNER OF THE ELWYN HARTLEY-EDWARDS AWARD FOR EQUINE WRITING, 2023.
Tiffany Francis-Baker explores how the relationship between humans and horses has shaped the British landscape and how this connection has become part of our nation's ecosystems.
Many of us enjoy walking or riding on bridleways. These ancient networks crisscross the British countryside, but we rarely pause to ponder how they came to be.
Tiffany Francis-Baker tells the intriguing history of Britain's bridleways, revealing how our relationship with horses is deeply woven into the fabric of British culture, from street and pub names to trading routes and coaching inns. She meets the closest living descendants of wild horses and investigates our evolving relationship with horses, exploring equestrian sports, horse fairs, horseback travellers and adventurers, and how humans and horses have worked together for millennia.
Part-domesticated and part-fiercely independent, horses have long captured our imaginations, and in The Bridleway, Francis-Baker reveals how deeply rooted they have been in our culture for thousands of years and how they can help us understand the natural world and our place within it.
Reviews
[ Francis-Bakers] ability to closely observe nature in all its beauty makes this book a delight for horse-lovers and non-equestrians alike A fascinating journey through the world of horses and our enduring relationship with them. -- Helen Moat * BBC Countryfile * Rather like a gentle summers hack, The Bridleway is an enjoyable meander through the British countryside over the centuries. Excellent research and lyrical nature-writing. * Horse & Hound * Her illustrations are captivating, and so is her writing. -- Marcus Tanner * The Tablet * The charm of her book lies in wayside details. -- Susanna Forrest * The Spectator * A eulogy to the relationship between human and horse, and what we can learn from it [ Tiffany Francis-Baker] evokes the sights and sounds of the countryside beautifully. -- Elinor Goodman * The Oldie * Tiffany Francis-Baker offers a new perspective on bridleways and how they have shaped the countryside around us. * Horse & Rider *
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Tiffany Francis-Baker explores how the relationship between humans and horses has shaped the British landscape and how this connection has become part of our nations ecosystems.
Chapter One: The Warren
Chapter Two: Chalk and Bone
Chapter Three: The Muse
Chapter Four: Bread and Circuses
Chapter Five: The Highwayman
Chapter Six: Equestrienne
Chapter Seven: The Fair
Chapter Eight: Beasts of Burden
Chapter Nine: Moorstone
Chapter Ten: War
Chapter Eleven: The Herd
Chapter Twelve: The Go-Between
Acknowledgements
Further Reading
References
Index
Tiffany Francis-Baker is an award-winning writer, artist and environmentalist from the South Downs in Hampshire. With a background in the arts, rural heritage and conservation, her work is fuelled by a love for the natural world and a passion for protecting it. She writes and illustrates for national publications and has appeared on BBC Radio 4 and Channel 4. Her books include Dark Skies, Food You Can Forage, the Concise Foraging Guide and Bees and Beekeeping.
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