Ride a White Horse

Rating:
Summary: If you love horses and Europe . . .
Review: Am delighted to find this book still available. It was given to me as a gift when I was a horse-crazy child. I loved it then, and love it as much or more now, at 46. Am re-reading it for the umpteenth time, this time aloud to my husband on our daily commute. He now has his very own "first horse." I think he is feeling a new sense of closeness to his own aged gelding horse since we began the book.

Ride a White Horse is the charming and timeless tale of the bond that grows between rescued horse and restless, retired (somewhat less-than-fit, ex-military. . .) English gentleman as they share months of adventure and hardship on a horse-back European grand tour. Themes of life in the outdoors and of the spontaneous and sometimes incredibly warm hospitality offered by complete strangers in a foreign country enliven the tale.

The portrayal of the generosity of the French is pleasingly consistent with my own experience. It is as true today as it was then, for Holt. This book is a charming and timely antidote to the undeserved stereotype of the French spouted by the more xenophobic types among us.

For those horse-lovers who have travelled in Europe, or who feel a particular bond to England,France or Italy, this is a "can't miss" read. Holt's sketches and photos are wonderful. The new, incongruous cover illustration IS a shame! Holt's writing style is down-to-earth and gently poetic, as are his original illustrations.

Rating:
Summary: If you love horses and Europe . . .
Review: As a horse lover, I read this book long ago and am re-reading it again now. This is a gem of a book, well told and illustrated by the adventurer himself. Holt, aged 67, befriended this extraordinary ex-cart horse, and together they rode and camped across Europe and back to England. He tells of their many challenging adventures and of their inspiring devotion to each other.
I can only fantasize doing what he did, knowing how much more mechanized our world is today than in the 60's. Holt simply saddled up his horse with a few provisions and a sketch book and started out alone. In our hitech life, this is a great book to read, especially if one appreciates England and Europe.
My only objection is the new cover on the book, which has nothing to do with the story. The original version has Holt's drawing of himself and Trigger on the cover. Hopefully they kept the many photographs in the new edition. I'm just grateful the book is still available.

Rating:
Summary: A remarkable story of the ultimate trail ride
Review: As a horse lover, I read this book long ago and am re-reading it again now. This is a gem of a book, well told and illustrated by the adventurer himself. Holt, aged 67, befriended this extraordinary ex-cart horse, and together they rode and camped across Europe and back to England. He tells of their many challenging adventures and of their inspiring devotion to each other.
I can only fantasize doing what he did, knowing how much more mechanized our world is today than in the 60's. Holt simply saddled up his horse with a few provisions and a sketch book and started out alone. In our hitech life, this is a great book to read, especially if one appreciates England and Europe.
My only objection is the new cover on the book, which has nothing to do with the story. The original version has Holt's drawing of himself and Trigger on the cover. Hopefully they kept the many photographs in the new edition. I'm just grateful the book is still available.