The Ride of My Life : Memoirs of a Sporting Editor

Michael Clayton has enjoyed a fascinating career as a professional journalist on Fleet Street – but the highlight of his career was his work as a editor and journalist in the field of horses, and with hunting horses in particular. This is his autobiography in horses: his boyhood work in local stables, his first post as a cub reporter, leading eventually to his appointment as editor of Horse and Hound magazine. Here he talks frankly about his involvement with the Royal family and their horses, his roving hunting brief, the development of new safety standards in riding, and all the key characters of the equine world whom he got to know first-hand. He worked as a reporter of horse-racing, show-jumping, carriage driving (disastrous!) and with almost all the hunts of Britain, Ireland and the USA. Michael also recalls the time of the hunting ban, among other key moments. His account, with photographs, is witty, incisive, pacey and very frank. Title Page -- Dedication -- Acknowledgement -- Contents -- Foreword by Mark Hedges, Editor of Country Life -- INTRODUCTION: Hacking for fun -- CHAPTER ONE: Impossible Dreams -- CHAPTER TWO: Five shillings a week ponies -- CHAPTER THREE: In the Editor's saddle -- CHAPTER FOUR: Two jobs -- CHAPTER FIVE: Weekly challenge -- CHAPTER SIX: Foxford sets forth -- CHAPTER SEVEN: Hunt subscriber -- CHAPTER EIGHT: Middle England -- CHAPTER NINE: Discovering The Shires -- CHAPTER TEN: Rusticating in Rutland -- CHAPTER ELEVEN: Come to the show -- CHAPTER TWELVE: What to wear - and other dilemmas -- CHAPTER THIRTEEN: Hunting USA -- CHAPTER FOURTEEN: Adventures in Ireland -- CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Come to the Ball -- CHAPTER SIXTEEN: The Turf -- CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: Horsey Family Number One -- CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: The Battle -- CHAPTER NINETEEN: My horses -- CHAPTER TWENTY: Downs - and ups -- Index -- A, B, C -- D, E, F -- G, H, I -- J, K, L -- M, N, O -- P, Q, R -- S, T, U -- V, W, X -- Further Reading from Merlin Unwin Books -- Copyright