Description A History of Horsemanship Charles Chenevix Trench First Edition 1970 Hardback in a dust wrapper 10″ x 7.5″, 317 pp plus index, illustrated with colour and black and white photographs. This is not a book on “how to ride”, but rather the unique story of how, why, where, and when men and women have for over four thousand years ridden horses. The cavalries of Xenophon and Julius Caesar, the horse archers of Central Asia, the Crusaders, the conquistadors and cowboys, Boers and Comanches, dressage artists and fox hunters, jockeys and show jumpers, have ridden in various styles adapted to terrain, type of available mount, and the job to be done. In a lucide, lively narrative full of colourful examples and practical insights, the author describes equestrian equipment, techniques, activities from African deserts to medieval tournaments to American rodeos. He also provides enlightening accounts of the contributions – and controversies – of notable equestrian masters such as Gueriniere, the Duke of Newcastle, Grisone, Caprilli. Superbly illustrated with an apt and original selection of photographs and works of art in colour and black and white, this is a highly readable and hugely informative chronicle of the partnership of man and horse in war, exploration, toil, and sport – in effect, a chronicle of civilization. For pleasure and reference, it’s a book that belongs in every horse-lover’s library. This book contains a very good chapter entitled “Women Riders” and also some useful costume illustrations.
