Horsey autobiographies

[horsimous]

I read the Mary King autobiography (which was excellent) and would like to hear whether there are any other interesting horsey autobiographies?

Does anyone have the John Whitaker one?

 

[webble]

Bob champions is good

 

[Spotherisk]

Depends on your horsey interests a bit - over the years I’ve read Lucinda Green, Ginny Leng, Ian Stark, Harvey Smith, Lord Oakley, A P McCoy… oh and if you enjoy the Pullein-Thompson books then of course their Fairgirls and grey horses is great. I’ve also loved Monica Edward’s The valley and the Farm, and Monica Dickens Talking of horses.

If you enjoy horse travel books then try the Longriders Guild.

Edited to add the link http://www.thelongridersguild.com/LRG.htm

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Pat Smythe with Jump for Joy and then Leaping Lifes Fences, both old now but very interesting to read. (The latter encompasses the 1st 2 books)

 

[thefarsideofthefield]

104 Horses
Mandy Retzlaff

 

[Smitty]

The Horseman, or just Horseman by......
... Marsh or Marshall. Will clamber over stuff in junk room to look tomorrow

Wonderful book about a family of horse dealers at the turn of the 19th century in Leicestershire.

 

[Blanche]

Breakfast the Night Before, about a woman who was a dealer in Ireland. I am always recommending this book on here but it is really good. I will have to google her name and will add it shortly.

Eta Marjorie Quarton, hopefully spelt correctly.

 

[silv]

Breakfast the Night Before, about a woman who was a dealer in Ireland. I am always recommending this book on here but it is really good. I will have to google her name and will add it shortly.

Eta Marjorie Quarton, hopefully spelt correctly.

I love that book, also William Fox Pitt autobiography, Mark Todd, Pippa Funnel. Jenny Pitman's is also a great read.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Breakfast the Night Before, about a woman who was a dealer in Ireland. I am always recommending this book on here but it is really good. I will have to google her name and will add it shortly.

Eta Marjorie Quarton, hopefully spelt correctly.

Thanks for the recommendation. Just bought it on Kindle .

 

[Horseysheepy]

Love the Pippa Funnel autobiography.

 

[dapple_grey]

I loved Clare Balding’s ‘My Animals and other Family’. Also AP McCoy and Frankie Dettori’s. Have asked for John Whitaker’s for Christmas!

 

[Petalpoos]

Breakfast the Night Before, about a woman who was a dealer in Ireland. I am always recommending this book on here but it is really good. I will have to google her name and will add it shortly.

Eta Marjorie Quarton, hopefully spelt correctly.

Also just bought it on Kindle. Thanks for the recommendation!

 

[AdorableAlice]

If you are of an age to remember John Francome, Richard Dunwood and Henry Cecil all are well worth a read.

 

[criso]

Monica Dickens Talking of horses.

That's one of my favourite books ever. Read it as a child and still holds up. Every page has something quotable.

 

[Spotherisk]

That's one of my favourite books ever. Read it as a child and still holds up. Every page has something quotable.

Non-horsey but also her One pair of hands and One pair of feet are a good read - and autobiographical.

 

[Burnerbee]

Ginny Leng, John Francome, Harvey Smith, Pippa Funnell, Mark Todd - and Marion Mould’s…which is really about Stroller. I was thinking about John Francome’s earlier, for no discernible reason but it’s 20++ years since I read it so it must’ve made an impression.

 

[rextherobber]

I really enjoyed "Ahlerich" by Reiner Klimke, the autobiography of his horse and "My horses, my teachers" by Alois Podhajsky

 

[reynold]

My Life in 12 Horses from Nicky Henderson and of course AP's.

 

[Maxine67]

Depends on your horsey interests a bit - over the years I’ve read Lucinda Green, Ginny Leng, Ian Stark, Harvey Smith, Lord Oakley, A P McCoy… oh and if you enjoy the Pullein-Thompson books then of course their Fairgirls and grey horses is great. I’ve also loved Monica Edward’s The valley and the Farm, and Monica Dickens Talking of horses.

If you enjoy horse travel books then try the Longriders Guild.

Edited to add the link http://www.thelongridersguild.com/LRG.htm

I love Talking of Horses, I still have my childhood copy which I read so many times I can still remember most of it word for word, I might have to read it again now

 

[timefort]

The Desert Orchid autobiography gets my vote, I think it was called The Grey Horse. I loved the 2 Richard Dunwoody autobiographies too

 

[Time for Tea]

Thank you for all these lovely suggestions. Mark Rashids books are all a wonderful read, and largely autobiographical. Also A Horsey Life by Simon Barnes, and The Fox in the Cupboard, by Jane Shilling. These last two are or were amateur riders, the books are beautifully written portrayals of their voyages of discovery as horse owners.

 

[Sealine]

I’ve read quite a few of those mentioned. I’ve just ordered Talking of Horses

 

[Lucky Snowball]

Road to the National by Rosemary Henderson. Really enjoyed it as she was local to me and I knew the places she talked about.

 

[Supertrooper]

Thank you for all these lovely suggestions. Mark Rashids books are all a wonderful read, and largely autobiographical. Also A Horsey Life by Simon Barnes, and The Fox in the Cupboard, by Jane Shilling. These last two are or were amateur riders, the books are beautifully written portrayals of their voyages of discovery as horse owners.

Was going to say Mark Rashids books, especially the earlier ones. Starting with Considering the horse.

 

[Cobwithattitudebackagain]

From way back; Classic Lives by Caroline Silver - great writer.

 

[Spotherisk]

From way back; Classic Lives by Caroline Silver - great writer.

I love this book but her Summer with Tommy would be in my book Top 10, even though I’m in my 50’s.

 

[martyfisch]

The Stable Lass is a good read.

 

[Skib]

Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, Thirty Years on and Off the Box Seat.

I own this so I must have enjoyed it. It is a long time since I read it. It revealed how competitive he was. That he had to devise a sport in which he could compete after he gave up polo.

 

[paisley]

Henrietta Knight is worth a read

 

[Sealine]

I love this book but her Summer with Tommy would be in my book Top 10, even though I’m in my 50’s.

I loved Summer with Tommy as a child and bought a second hand copy to re-read a while ago. Still loved it

ETA: I remember buying my original copy via the Puffin Club at school. I was a prolific reader as a child (still am) and I remember the excitement of finding a pony related book on the Puffin Club list.