Through an examination of transgressive female equestrians at the turn of the twentieth century, in settings as varied as Wild West shows, the women's suffrage movement, Thoroughbred racing, and circuses, McGraw provides an eclectic glimpse at a fascinating slice of Progressive Era America. Beautifully illustrated and engagingly written, Astride takes readers to a time when the way in which women rode horses truly mattered.
~James C. Nicholson, author of Racing for America: The Horse Race of the Century and the Redemption of a Sport
Astride provides a unique look at the intersection between the feminine side of equestrian culture and the larger relationships between women and men and between women and society at large. An important work.
~Avalyn Hunter, author of The Kentucky Oaks: 150 Years of Running for the Lilies
The world has long recognized the special bond of affection between women and horses, but less well-known is how this bond has provided women access to traditionally male-dominated pursuits in sport, politics, and the workplace. With her deft writing style and impressive use of language, Eliza McGraw discusses in well-researched detail how the woman-horse connection has led to significant change in these areas and others. The result is Astride, a work that both educates and entertains—though not necessarily in that order.
~Mark Shrager, Dr. Tony Ryan Book Award-winning author of Diane Crump: A Horse-Racing Pioneer's Life in the Saddle
Thoroughbred racing enthusiasts who enjoyed the deft and deeply researched historical flourishes of McGraw's Here Comes Exterminator! will be drawn in by her revelations in Astride, which shines a light on women whose long-forgotten accomplishments predate a number of generally accepted 'firsts' in the sport
~T.D. Thornton, author of Not by a Long Shot: A Season at a Hard-Luck Horse Track
Every woman who loves horses and sees them as an important part of her life should read this book. McGraw shows us how integral horses have been in the lives of American women, carrying them into equality over the past two hundred years. After learning about these pioneering female equestrians and how they fought to have the same rights as men within the horse world—and without—I can't help but feel even prouder when I'm sitting astride my horse.
~Audrey Pavia, president of North American Trail Ride Conference (NATRC) Region 2
Astride weaves together horse history with the inspiring stories of trailblazing equestriennes. Through McGraw's blend of scholarly research and vivid storytelling, readers will encounter remarkable women—from pioneering suffragists and daring trick riders to devoted horse-welfare advocates, empathetic trainers, and more. Each page whisks the reader on vicarious adventures through the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, revealing how women partnered with horses to challenge societal norms or simply revel in the joy of riding. Astride illuminates the powerful bond between women and horses of the past, a connection that continues to thrive today.
~Susan Friedland, equestrian lifestyle blogger at saddleseekshorse.com and author of Marguerite, Misty and Me: A Horse Lover's Hunt for the Hidden History of Marguerite Henry and Her Chincoteague Pony
Eliza McGraw explores a little-known chapter of American history that has great resonance today. With fascinating anecdotes and rare period photos, McGraw brings to life the intrepid women who rode astride, challenging social norms and advocating for equal rights. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in history, horses, and American heroes.
~Laurie Prinz, content director at Equine Network
Heroines, horses, and history balance in equipoise in Eliza McGraw's fresh and superbly researched Astride. Readers, get tied on, because McGraw takes us on horseback in gallops through Central Park, off high dives from Atlantic City piers, and on fearless suffragette parades through the streets of Washington, DC. What a ride is Astride.
~Josh Pons, two-time Eclipse Award–winning author of Letters from Country Life
Astride excavates the way women on horseback shaped America in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries—and how America, in turn, shaped the horsewoman. In writing about mounted suffragettes, cowgirls, and circus riders, McGraw reveals a hidden history that stretches from New York bridle paths to the wild frontier. Her sixth book highlights both her research chops and a deep love for the American horsewoman.
~Emma Hudelson, author of Sky Watch: Chasing an American Saddlebred Story
Go for a ride with Eliza McGraw and experience the transformative moment when women partnered with horses to create the New Woman. Meet the equestriennes who dared challenge expectations and showed what the so-called fairer sex could do once astride their equine companions
~Jennifer Kelly, author of The Foxes of Belair:Gallant Fox, Omaha, and the Quest for the Triple Crown
