The Bridleway: How Horses Shaped The Landscape by Tiffany Francis-Baker

Book Review

The Bridleway by Tiffany Francis-Baker has been described as ‘a joyful gallop through the history of equestrianism,’ I certainly would agree with the joyful sentiment in this quote, however I would suggest it’s more of a gentle hack across the downs in which we meander through the fields, brush past the hedgerows and watch the farmers in the fields. I loved it and here are my thoughts on this delightful rural read.

Before I go any further I should just say that Tiffany is a very good friend of mine and I remember sitting on her sofa talking through her idea for this book several years ago at its inception. That said, if I didn’t think it was any good I just wouldn’t share it with you. If I don’t have anything nice to say, I don’t say anything.

So without further ado here’s the blurb:

Tiffany Francis-Baker explores how the relationship between humans and horses has shaped the British landscape, how horses have captured our wild imaginations, and how this connection has evolved and become part of our nation's ecosystems.

Many of us enjoy walking on a bridleway. These ancient networks are familiar to walkers and riders and crisscross the British countryside, but we rarely stop to think about how these old routes came to be.

In The Bridleway, Tiffany Francis-Baker examines our relationship with horses and ponders how they have become part of our nation's ecosystems. From atop her horse, Tiffany discovers how horses are woven into the fabric of British culture, from street and pub names to trading routes and coaching inns. As she investigates how horses have shaped British landscapes, she offers a glimpse into the intriguing history of the bridleway.

Along the way, Tiffany visits a horse fair and learns about Traveller communities. She explores the role of equestrian sport and inclusivity, sees rewilding in action on the Knepp Estate in Sussex and undertakes detective work to uncover ancient bridleways lost to time and meet the closest living ancestors of the truly wild horse.

Part-domesticated and part-fiercely independent, horses can teach us a lot about our landscape and help us understand nature and our place within it. Except for the dogs and cats we choose to share our homes with, we have allowed horses far deeper into our society than any other animal. And as Tiffany investigates why horses have captured Britons' attention, she reveals how deeply rooted they have been in our culture for thousands of years.

This is an extremely accessible book, which is most definitely not just for ‘horsey types.’ There is a smattering of popular science but this book is grounded in heritage and the landscape, and how we can remain connected to it through horses. It is not an encyclopaedia of the history of the horse and it’s not meant to be.

Jodhpurs and knee length Argyle pattern socks are entirely optional although you may find that through the book you are surrounded by the smell of horses, thanks to Tiffany’s evocation of this very particular and comforting smell.

There is something for everyone: pictoglyphs in the form of chalk horses, Romans thundering through on chariots, heavy horses head down and doing the hard work, wild horses far off on the moors and horses that have lain down their lives for us in war.

The book is written and illustrated by Tiffany and each illustration acts as a little window into the chapter to come. Each chapter takes a different element of our relationship with horses and all twelve chapters build up a patchwork of heritage and history that explores our connection with an animal whose strength we have harnessed over millennia, in order to cultivate and shape our land.

This book will mean different things to different people, stir up old memories, enlighten those with no previous knowledge of horses or their history and reaffirm our biophilic nature and need for connection with the wild. This will make an excellent addition to the bookshelf of any lover of heritage, nature and the old ways and I for one will use it as a reference in my own work.

In conclusion, never has it been more important to remember the paths that were trodden before us, those who helped us achieve our goals, human and non human, and the lessons we learnt along the way and can continue to learn, and this book does just that.

If you are local, Tiffany is launching her book in the walled gardens at Cowdray on the 28th June. You can book your ticket to join her here.

You can buy Tiffany Francis-Baker’s , ‘The Bridleway’ in all good bookshops. If you would like to buy a copy online, please consider visiting my page on Bookshop.org where I have gathered some of the books I read and recommend. Here you will find a plethora of myth, legend and folktale.

And don’t forget to support your local library too and see if they have a copy to borrow.