Bookshelf
A selection of inspiring horsey adventure books, perfect for a rainy day…
From East to West by Saddle is Best
Claire Alldritt
I loved this book! A funny and inspiring story of Claire’s horseback journey from one side of Scotland to the other, carrying everything she needed for the journey on her two horses. Claire is a wonderful storyteller, recounting every calamity she faces along her journey. This book was the start of my interest in long distance horseback adventures and although it doesn’t cover kit specifics, it’s a captivating account showing what’s possible.
Edge of Blue Heaven
Benedict Allen
An easy to read diary of Benedict’s horseback journey across Mongolia, relying on the hospitality of the nomads and their gers to feed and shelter him along the way as well as a collection of traditional mongolian horses to carry him and his gear. On reaching the gobi, he switches from horses to camels, walking over 40km a day to cross the vast desert during the narrow summer window, before autumn descends bringing snow and making the route impassible. The book is full of stunning photos too!
On Horseback BHS Guidebook Series
British Horse Society
A collection of guidebooks produced by the BHS in 1994 with hand drawn maps, illustrations and route descriptions. The series covered 12 areas: Ridgeway Downs, Westmorland, Western Fells, Exmoor, Dorset, Leicestershire and Rutland, Humberside, The Cotswolds, Somerset, Northamptonshire, South Warwickshire, Buckinghamshire
Connemara Mollie
Hilary Bradt
A captivating and well written novel covering Hilary’s horseback adventure around the coast of Ireland in 1984. A keen adventurist and used to being uncomfortable, she traveled to Connemara with a saddle and a bridle she’d purchased in Peru as well as a sleeping bag and a few essentials. She bought a Connemara from a local farmer, tacked up and set off! Almost unheard of in current times, Hilary traveled along the coastline completely on her own, with just Mollie for company, asking farmers to use their fields and stopping in pubs and villages to buy food. A remarkable story that delves into her journey along with the generosity of people that she meets along the way.
Saddles and Sisterhood
Krystal Kelly
A fun collection of short stories from women led equestrian adventures around the world, perfect for inspiring your next adventure and motivating you to book that flight! (This is a pocket book, perfect to slip in your handbag for travelling – I read it cover to cover on a 5 hour train journey)
Before Winter Comes
Cathleen Leonard
I LOVED this book! It resonated with me so well not least of which because Cathleen carried out her 1000 mile horseback trek with her wolfdog in tow. My favourite bit was Cathleen’s total wunderlust that she explained so vividly at the beginning of the book – her need for constant adventure and her not being satisfied with riding and re-riding the local routes over and over again. A concept so hard to grasp for non-adventure minded equestrians and yet Cathleen explained it so well.
Rough Magic
Lara Prior-Palmer
A must read for any aspiring horsey adventurer. This book is totally mad and absolutely brilliant! Lara doesn’t spare any details from food poisoning to images of hundreds of hamsters bobbing up and down from their holes on the plains. The social media stories really don’t capture the spirit of the Mongol Derby but Lara’s recount delves into the emotions, triumphs and tribulations of the world’s most gruelling race. Lara won the Derby in 2019 and was the first British winner, first female winner and youngest winner of the Mongol Derby, despite entering late and switching her GPS off because she didn’t know how to work it!!
The Ponies At The Edge of the World
Catherine Munro
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