Amazons

Warriors, knights, huntresses or sovereigns, they had to overcome the conventions of their time, which reserved the practice of horse riding for men. From Antiquity to the present day, from Penthesilea to Joan of Arc, from the Empress of Russia to the Queen of England, these daring “horsewomen” have had to demonstrate not only intrepidity, but also independence of mind to be able to indulge in their passion.

With the help of around a hundred contributors (historians, writers, journalists, researchers), Jean-Louis Gouraud made the somewhat crazy bet of trying to establish an inventory of all these pioneers, who did not hesitated to shake up morals – with the result that we know: today, 80% of horse riders are women.

The initial idea had the ambition – disproportionate – to cover all eras, all civilizations and all disciplines. And therefore not to stick only to female riders, but also to mention those who, without necessarily having achieved equestrian exploits, have had a strong, even essential, relationship with the horse.

Thus we find here, among the five hundred horsewomen listed, both circus or high school riders, dressage or show jumping champions, but also breeders, stuntwomen, drivers, trainers, veterinarians, ethologists, therapists, researchers, artists, photographers, poets of yesterday or today like Christine de Pizan or Laurence Bougault, writers like George Sand or Françoise Sagan , actresses like Sarah Bernhardt or Marina Hands, singers like La Malibran or Caroline Casadesus. As well as some great travelers, like Isabelle Eberhardt or Anne Mariage; some adventurers, like Calamity Jane and even a few saints, like Jeanne de Chantal.

Geographically, we will find the same diversity in this monumental work, which guarantees the reader, amateur or specialist, many surprises.