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The Bridleway

How Horses Shaped the British Landscape

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About this listen

 Bloomsbury presents The Bridleway by Tiffany Francis-Baker, read by Olivia Mace.

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.©2023 Tiffany Francis-Baker (P)2023 Bloomsbury Publishing Plc Animals Biological Sciences Equestrian Sports Horses Human Geography Outdoors & Nature Pets & Animal Care Riding & Horsemanship Science Social Sciences Sports Animal Sports
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This is a beautiful book and I enjoyed every minute of it . A joyful journey that meanders through history and geography - so many amazing facts and insights and observations . It’s a wonderful book .

Delightful descriptions, wonderful wisdom and a wealth of life changing knowledge !

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It took me two goes at listening to this audio book, but then I was lost in the story of the horse. As a lifelong lover of all things to do with the noble horse it was a joy to listen to. Their story in being part in our life's through history was well told. Definitely worth a listen and would certainly recommend. The narration was good apart from the annoying mispronounced word of livery.

Delightful

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A fascinating history of the horse in British history and culture and a valuable insight into the lives of these beautiful animals. Most enjoyable.

Horses for courses

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If you love horses and nature this book is definitely for you. The author takes us on a beautifully evocative hack through the British landscape and across different eras. From pit ponies to war horses, and poetry to conservation grazing.

The narration is exquisite, but I knocked off one star for some seriously mispronounced words that I’m guessing the narrator was not familiar with (like livery) which unfortunately jarred what was otherwise a riveting listen.

Beautiful, evocative and interesting

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I honestly didn't know what to expect, as a life long horseman, I thoroughly enjoyed it! listening on an audio book as a lorry driver, I was so engaged that the miles melted away and as a former serviceman, I had a more than one tear in my eye too!! I thoroughly recommend the Bridleway wether a rider or not, I'd like to think most would enjoy it

insightful and thought provoking

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