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Books > Sport & Leisure > Sports & outdoor recreation > Equestrian & animal sports
The Mongol Derby is the world's toughest horse race. A feat of endurance across the vast Mongolian plains once traversed by the people of Genghis Khan, competitors ride 25 horses across a distance of 1000km. Many riders don't make it to the finish line.
In 2013 Lara Prior-Palmer - nineteen, underprepared but seeking the great unknown - decided to enter the race. Driven by her own restlessness, stubbornness, and a lifelong love of horses, she raced for seven days through extreme heat and terrifying storms, catching a few hours of sleep where she could at the homes of nomadic families. Battling bouts of illness and dehydration, exhaustion and bruising falls, she found she had nothing to lose, and tore through the field with her motley crew of horses. In one of the Derby's most unexpected results, she became the youngest-ever champion and the first woman to win the race.
A tale of adventure, fortitude and poetry, Rough Magic is the extraordinary story of one young woman's encounter with oblivion, and herself.
In 1964, Patricia MacKay immigrated to Canada from England in
search of the wild-open lands and cowboy culture that captivated
her as a child. In the 1960s, the Wild West was still alive and
kicking in the Cariboo-Chilcotin, although it had been tamed--a
little. Old-time hospitality and helping anyone in need was the
acknowledged way of life. Pat learned the Cariboo-Chilcotin way of
life first hand by spending her summers working on guest ranches
and finding other jobs to keep her occupied during the winter. From
learning how to cook on the job to kitchen disasters and successes,
roundups, branding, square dances and falling in love, she slowly
gained acceptance into the tight-knit communities of BC's Interior.
Ranching meant long hours, hard work, and a lifestyle all its own.
Entertainment was homemade. There were rodeos, dances, and music
around campfires in the summer and ice hockey, tobogganing, and
parties in the winter. Sadly, that way of life is gradually
disappearing, but this book relives the way things were between
1964 and 1976; it tells of a unique brand of people from a variety
of backgrounds who made this part of the west their home.
Master the essentials of horse riding and improve your technique
with this practical illustrated handbook. It features expert advice
and tips for the absolute beginner, from putting on the bridle and
tightening the girth to adjusting the stirrup leathers and holding
the reins. How to perfect your posture and improve your seat, and
how to mount, walk, trot, canter and gallop, including instructions
for the more experienced rider. It features step-by-step
photographic sequences and illustrations that show clearly what to
do - and also what not to do. It includes a complete guide to the
clothing and safety equipment you will need, such as hard hats,
riding boots, trousers, chaps, body protectors and neck straps. It
offers all riding exercises, techniques and possible pitfalls are
shown in over 250 clear photographs and diagrams. The feeling of
galloping through an open field in perfect harmony with your horse
is hard to beat. To reach this level of unity, a few basic
techniques are needed. This book explains these techniques in
step-by-step detail so that you can enjoy riding your horse to its
full potential. The book places special emphasis on the importance
of good posture for achieving expert riding skills. It includes all
the basics of good horse riding, from what to wear through to
advanced techniques. Possible pitfalls are also shown, with
solutions for handling them. A combination of theory and practice,
this essential handbook will help you develop your confidence and
horse riding skills.
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