An exploration of how the British landscape has been shaped by
equestrianism, how horses have captured our wild imaginations, and how
they have become part of our nation's ecosystems.
Most of us have enjoyed walking on a bridleway at some time or other,
but we rarely stop to think about how these old routes came to be. These
ancient networks criss-cross the British countryside and are so familiar
to walkers and riders that they have become almost invisible as we
meander our way along them. From atop a horse, Tiffany Francis-Baker
provides readers with a new perspective on bridleways and a glimpse into
their intriguing history.
Revealing how deep-rooted horses have been in British culture for
thousands of years, Tiffany unravels how these ancient pathways became
scattered across British landscapes. She explores how our landscape was
shaped by equestrianism, how horses have captured our wild imaginations
and how they have become part of our nation's ecosystems.
Horses are the only domesticated animal that we elevate to pets or
entertainment or classify as vehicles, machinery, or tools of farming
and conservation. In their hybridity as part-domesticated, part-fiercely
independent, horses can teach us a lot about our landscape and our place
within it. And they can help us to understand nature through a different
pair of eyes. As a nation, we have allowed them far deeper into human
society than any other animals, except dogs and cats. In her new book,
Tiffany investigates why this animal, in particular, has captured
Britons' attention so much and explores how horses have shaped Britain's
landscape, history and heritage.
