Author(s): Philip Holden

NZ Non Fiction

A lot of New Zealanders, even the urban variety, have a real love for horses and the lifestyle that they represent. In Riding Country, Philip Holden presents horses from the heartland of New Zealand, along with the people who work and ride them daily. He covers the island north to south, and takes in such diverse subjects as rural trekking operators, traditional farmers working hard, hilly country, and the heartwarming tale of animals rescued from the last Kaimanawa wild horse cull. Also featured are a day at the rodeo, the polo horses of John Falloon, Molesworth station, the horses rescued and retained by war hero Charles Upham, and the Clydesdale cavalcade. Some of the horses in the book are specially bred for their work, others are loved no matter what their genes may be. The people featured tell their stories with honesty and openness, and Philip deftly weaves in the pioneer history of rural New Zealand so that Riding Country becomes more than a book about horses, rather an insight into our rural heritage.