Rating: 
Summary: I Loved This Book!
Review: I almost didn't buy this book because of the negative reviews here, but I thought, "Well, I can always sell it to a used bookstore if I don't like it."
Wow, am I glad I DID buy it! I thought it was wonderful all the way through. It's well written and full of interesting people and anecdotes. I didn't find the author self-absorbed at all; in fact, I thought he had a pleasing self-effacement. And he looks at all kinds of riders, riding, and horses.
It usually takes me months to read a book, because I read only a few pages a day. But I read HORSE PEOPLE in a week. It's the kind of book that I couldn't wait to read when I got home from work. And I stayed up late reading it, too, and didn't regret it a bit.
It's an excellent book, and I recommend it enthusiastically.
Rating:
Summary: Not just for Horse Lovers
Review: I bought this book and I don't own a horse, and have never owned a horse and don't intend to ever own a horse. But, I love Michael Korda's ability to tell a story. And to draw a reader in with his sometimes self-depricating, always dry, wit. I first discovered Mr. Korda's writing, with his book ANOTHER LIFE:a memoir of other people, before that I had no idea who he was( ie famous Editor/author.) I bought ANOTHER LIFE and was hooked on his hilarious descriptions of editing nearly every author I'd ever read. Then I got his book CHARMED LIVES, and loved it. Then MAN TO MAN, then this book HORSE PEOPLE. His books draw us in and entertain us. When I started reading Korda's work, in 2000, I had never written a book. Now that I'm the author of two books of my own and under contract for two more...I read Korda's work as much for entertainment, as for testaments of "how it's done". I highly recommend this book for someone who just wants a great read. Or someone who wants to see how a great memoir is written - or of course, for someone who is interested in anyway, in the actual subject of horses.
Rating: 
Summary: Too rich for my blood.
Review: I bought this book based on a glowing review I'd read in the Los Angeles Times. Having grown up in NYC and, like Mr. Korda, ridden at both Claremont Stables in Central Park and Clove Lake Stables on Staten Island, I thought for sure this book would be chock full of places and experiences I could relate to. Boy, was I wrong. Aside from finding out that someone I dated in the early 70's is a friend of Mr. Korda's and is featured prominently in his book (that was pretty neat), I didn't learn much of anything except how the "other half" lives. A more appropriate title for this book would have been "Rich Horse People - Very Rich Horse People". Being a horse owner myself (with a relatively modest income), I had a hard time relating to the endless descriptions of Mr. Korda's wealthy acquaintances and their acres of horse property. He seems to be more interested in the people he's writing about than the relationship between those people and their horses. And what's with the little phrases en francais he tosses in every few pages and the occasional (dare I say it?) racist and condescending references to those less fortunate (i.e. referring to the employers of stable hands as their "betters")? All in all, a very disappointing book for me - so disappointing, in fact, that I quit after page 175 and sold my copy on Ebay. If you're looking for a great horse book, go read Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand or Horse Heaven by Jane Smiley. If you want to learn about rich people and their estates, there's always the A&E channel.
Rating:
Summary: Too rich for my blood.
Review: I bought this booked based on a glowing review I'd read in the Los Angeles Times. Having grown up in NYC and, like Mr. Korda, ridden at both Claremont Stables in Central Park and Clove Lake Stables on Staten Island, I thought for sure this book would be chock full of places and experiences I could relate to. Boy, was I wrong. Aside from finding out that someone I dated in the early 70's is a friend of Mr. Korda's and is featured prominently in his book, I didn't learn much of anything except how the "other half" lives. A more appropriate title for this book would have been "Rich Horse People - Very Rich Horse People". Being a horse owner myself (with a relatively modest income), I had a hard time relating to the endless descriptions of Mr. Korda's wealthy acquaintances and their acres of horse property. He seems to be more interested in the people he's writing about than the relationship between those people and their horses. And what's with the little phrases en francais he tosses in every few pages and the occasional (dare I say it?) racist and condescending references to those less fortunate (i.e. referring to the employers of stable hands as their "betters")? All in all, a very disappointing book for me - so disappointing, in fact, that I quit after page 175 and sold my copy on Ebay. If you're looking for a great horse book, go read Seabiscuit by Laura Hillenbrand or Horse Heaven by Jane Smiley. If you want to learn about rich people and their estates, there's always the A&E channel.
Rating: 
Summary: Should have been called "Me and My Beautiful Second Wife"
Review: I found this book to be a bore - written by a man who, once he leaves his wife and child for another married woman, spends the entire book knocking every single person he comes into contact with, save for himself and said second wife. Even his "friends" aren't safe from catty remarks, all of which serve to promote his fabulous second wife, who appears thoughout the book in pictures riding her various horses. Anyone who knows how to ride can clearly see she ain't all that she's cracked up to be according to her doting, emascualted husband. In fact, she hasn't even competed in the "high levels" Korda claims - she competes at very low levels, presumably so she can get lots and lots of ribbons and beat the "snooty little girls that only have horses because their parents pay for it." The text is sloppy - he repeats himself so many times I began to compare his differing descriptions of the same activity to see which was more outlandish. The book makes about as much sense as the piture of his wife, in her underwear, in the pasture, with her horses. It's a little weird, though it does explain why she sticks with him - he must foot the horse bills so she can stick with her true loves! I would suggest that anyone reading this book might not want to take lessons from Mr. Korda - his morals, as well as his skills as a horseman, are much exaggerated.
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Summary: My husband's new favorite book.
Review: I got this book looking for some insight into my own motivation to dedicate so much time and money to horses. I didn't get it, but I did learn why my husband is so bored at dinner parties with my horsey friends. The author seems to be trying to explain the lifestyle of the segment of horse people with which he is familiar to an even smaller segment of people - those who are very familiar with New York City, speak french and are quite well read. Just like a long dinner party, you often hear the same stories, quotes, and quips. The author repeats himself frequently. As a result, I know the three main themes of this book by heart - old money is better than new, riding is better than walking and horses respond better to good riders than bad ones. For me, the highlights of this book were the stories of life on the farm (adventures in horse shopping and installing automatic waters) and the touching story of losing a beloved horse. I also enjoyed the story of the author's trip to a racehorse rehabilitation facility. I would not recommend this book to foxhunters. The book is dominated by the evolution of the author's dislike for hunting. In terms of insight into what motivates horse people, I recommend Jane Smiley's A Year at the Races. I would suggest opening a bottle of wine when you break the cover on Horse People. My husband says it makes horsey chatter seem much more entertaining.
Rating:
Summary: Here's a book for a true rider
Review: I hate those horse books that make riding a magical event or a fairy tale. I like the true grit with feelings and real people, and this is it. It's not a professional rider looking back on his career, it's a man who loves riding and continues thoughout his life. This book really depicts the true feelings of a rider and the drive that keeps him invested. I couldn't put the book down and loved the relationships that the author developed with his horses.
Rating: 
Summary: exciting
Review: i totally enjoyed this book and almost, except for when i thought about the work involved, wanted to buy a horse. the anecdotes are charming, funny, sad and sweet. the only issue i had was whether it's morally right to allow the horses to enter events where they have to jump over such obstacles as to harm their hoofs. i'm not sure if it's correct to show off your prowess and daring at the expense of the horse's health. human athletes have the right to decide what they want to do with their bodies, horses don't. they're led into fierce competitons and then when they get sick, hurt or lame, they get discarded it seems. perhaps that's just the way it goes in the horse world.
Rating:
Summary: Great disappointmet
Review: I was bored. This book could have been a very good article. Its 360 pages should have been boiled down to a nice 25. Korda is reasonably knowledgeable about horses and a fair writer -- though this book, ironically indeed as Korda is a big-deal editor as he makes sure the reader understands -- could have done with some very rigorous editing, both at the level of the individual sentence and in terms of the purpose of the book as a whole. Long, sloppy sentences lead to a shapeless, disorganized book. Fundamentally, Korda and his friends/acquaintances have no interest for me. The book has half a dozen pages of compelling discussion of horses, riding, horse markets etc etc. That's the frustration. The guy does seem to know a fair amount and if he had had a decent editor might have written a very worthwhile book. Horses are indeed fascinating and yet this book is tedious. I'd suggest he go back and try over and cut out about 95% of the personal stuff.
Rating: 
Summary: A Mixed Review
Review: I'm of two minds about this book. As a lifelong horsewoman, I found many of his characterizations of the horse world and the horsey set right on the money. And I laughed out loud with recognition as I read some of his accounts of his experiences on and around horses. This is all to his credit, as most books about horses seem to be written by people who lack real experience with the animals themselves. On the other hand, his condescending, smug persona, repetitiveness, and self-righteousness is a real turn-off. One wonders what his wife sees in him, especially since it turns out that he is actually pretty indifferent about horses. Perhaps he explains it best when he mentions (repeatedly) that he is very good at writing checks. I'm glad that I borrowed this book rather than having paid for it.
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