Equal to Challenge by Jackie C. Burke

Consignment - Used Condition

When women decided that they wanted to compete in horse sports as equals with men, it took courage and perseverance. The women on both sides of the Atlantic who fought to compete in the male-dominated sports of show jumping, dressage, eventing, and racing are the subject of Equal to the Challenge. Jackie Burke interviewed many of these extraordinary women, and the book is richer for their simple, moving accounts of how they achieved their goals. Many had to endure rejection, humiliation, physical danger, and privation in order to take part in the horse sports they loved. Some women struggled doubly, since they had to overcome physical and financial handicaps. Young womenand not just riderswill find in this book worthy role models for our time. 

A highly readable account of how women have come from not being allowed to participate in equestrian competitions to their securing a prominent role in a wide variety of equestrian sports. The history of women and riding is briefly summarized while the bulk of the book focuses on the period starting after World War II to the present. This was the era that saw the first women participating in equestrian sports that had previously excluded them. The efforts of the talented women who were the first in their fields and the obstacles they faced (both literal and figurative) are described in some detail. Since much of the progress is recent enough that many of the women are still alive, the author's success in tracking down and interviewing her subjects is evident in her writing. Kathy Kushner receives quite a bit of attention as her role in both show jumping and racing was so important. Anyone interested in the history of equestrian sports will delight in this book.