Changing your mind after reading an autobiography - equine riders

I hold this thread entirely responsible for the fact that I have just gone and ordered 3 books from Amazon by Clare Balding, Paul Nicholls and Ruby Walsh :D
 
I absolutely loved WFP book. It made me realise that even the pros horses are not always straight forward. I particulary liked the bit about Highland lad (I think) and Williams coats tails just before his dressage test!
 
Loved the Claire Balding book - full of things I could identify with and impressed how she handled things.
Pat smythe got me into "proper showjumping" when I was 10.
Liked the Pippa Funnel one - came over as fun, hardworking and determined.
Sylvia Loch books, which give quite a lot of info on her life, also enjoyed
 
I loved Lucinda Greene's (or P-P as she was then) biography of Be Fair. It was called "Up, up and away" and I thought it was fantastic. Would love to find it again, but I think it's out of print now.
 
out of interest, for those that have read mary king's bio and changed their opinion after reading her book, what was it that you read that did that?

genuinely interested. I think i read the first one too All the Kings Horses. i enjoyed that although it was a fair while ago now.

Mary seems to come across quite smiley and likeable ?
 
lula said:
out of interest, for those that have read mary king's bio and changed their opinion after reading her book, what was it that you read that did that?

genuinely interested. I think i read the first one too All the Kings Horses. i enjoyed that although it was a fair while ago now.

Mary seems to come across quite smiley and likeable ?
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this ^ i love MK and was going to buy her autobiog, but a little worried it will shatter the pedestal I've got her on, lol :cool:
 
horsesatemychristmasmoney said:
this ^ i love MK and was going to buy her autobiog, but a little worried it will shatter the pedestal I've got her on, lol :cool:
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dont' worry i still love her, just the book itself i found repetitive with little insight into her personality and left me a little cold, shame as I'm sure written slightly differently with some more 'home life' and 'home truths' it could have been wonderful i imagine. i read autobiographies for the gems and insights and i don't think there were any in this book, reads like a wikipedia entry to me...competition, result, competition, result etc. etc.
 
I like Mary's book. I also like Pippa's which comes across as very honest. Not so into Mark Todd's though. Might have to get Clare Blading, Mick Fitz and Ruby.

I've also got Pat Smythe's which is a fascinating glimpse into a long-gone era
 
I really enjoyed Mary King's and didn't put me off in the slightest.

It's not the worlds best written book, but I still liked it :)

Clare Balding's and Tim Stockdale's are on my current list to read
 
really liked claire baldings, which i was quite suprised at as my mother described it as a 'waffly day-read'.
I always used to quite like andrew nicholson, but WFP's put me right off him. Pippa funnel's seriously changed my opinion of her, i always thought she was a tough nosed horsewoman but her biography came across a bit too drippy. I really liked lucinda greens regal realm. And mary king's, her insight into riding whilst pregnant struck a cord with me; i did it with my first (as she did) but doubt i'd do it for a second. Also read jenny pittman, whilst i know nothing about racing it was quite an interesting read. Princess anne's 'riding through my life' was interesting in parts, but on the whole rather dull!

i have one of mark todds sat on the shelf waiting to be read, havent got round to it yet as i've been on the fiona walkers!
 
Molasses said:
dont' worry i still love her, just the book itself i found repetitive with little insight into her personality and left me a little cold, shame as I'm sure written slightly differently with some more 'home life' and 'home truths' it could have been wonderful i imagine. i read autobiographies for the gems and insights and i don't think there were any in this book, reads like a wikipedia entry to me...competition, result, competition, result etc. etc.
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phew! thought there was some massive flaw in her personality or something! :o *pushes MK back on her pedestal*
 
I really enjoyed Timmy Murphy's autobiography, after reading about his alcohol related problems in the news I didn't have a high opinion of him until I read his book which I thought was brilliant.
I also wasn't keen on McCoy until I read his book.
But Mick Fitzgeralds is by far the best!
 
Never mind Mick Fitzgerald & his "better than sex" comment. I loved his girlfriends pithy retort that at 12.5 mins it lasted longer too........

PS, I adored all of Pat Smythes books - used to search the secondhand book shops for them when I was younger & I think I found them all!
 
Its funny isnt it, but having been a massive fan of Dick Francis and loved ios attitude so that when I read John Francomes book about his cheating and total will to win at all costs i was a bit shocked. I worked at a racecourse and didnt like the total anything to win but then I guess I am not a very competitive person . My horses are pets first and foremost so I find it hard when they are just machines to some of the pros
 
lula said:
out of interest, for those that have read mary king's bio and changed their opinion after reading her book, what was it that you read that did that?

genuinely interested. I think i read the first one too All the Kings Horses. i enjoyed that although it was a fair while ago now.

Mary seems to come across quite smiley and likeable ?
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For me, she came across like she put prize money over everything. I understand horses are the business but there are a lot of riders, Oliver Townsend for example, that are highly criticised for being ruthless but Mary King is on a pedestal. This could be entirely my interpretation.

I have met/seen her a few times and she has always been very pleasant and I think she is very media friendly for the sport, but much prefer the way Pippa Funnell came across in her book.

Also, Luicinda Green's book on Be Fair is great. She came across completely differently to how I imagined. Definitely worth getting if you can find it.
 
Went right of Paul Nicholls after reading his. Although to be honest I never much liked him in the first place.

Warmed to Timmy Murphy after his, and even more so to AP McCoy but he can do no wrong in my book :)
 
Ive read a few, Mary King, WFP, Pippa Funnel, Frankie Dettori and I am currently reading Clare Baldings, I have enjoyed them all love clare baldings its so funny, dying for tim stockdales to be released for kindle and then I will be happy, I wouldnt say my opinion on any of the peoples who's books I have read have changed my opinion on them they have all worked really hard to get to where they are
 
Well, I fell in love with Mary King after reading her biography. I suppose everyone has a different opinion. Nick Skeltons book just left me wanting to know what happened next. Hope theres are second instalment. xx
Anyone recommend any other good ones. xx
 
I have Sheila Wilcox's bio - 3 days running. I have enjoyed reading it a number of times over the past.....years!! I will 'pay it forward' is anyone is interested. You can email me at alythlong at msn dot com.
 
I try to remember, these people aren't writers, they're sports people. I think their stories are always going to come off factual. Read Mark Todds out of interest, but see him in an interview and he is very funny and self deprecating
 
I've gone off MK since reading hers. I too got a 'cold' impression but tbh it hasn't been very well written which doesn't help
 
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