Riding

by Pardis Mahdavi

In Riding, Pardis Mahdavi meditates on the lessons learned over a lifetime of horseback riding and the falling, failing, and joy it brings. At once a history of Caspian horses, an exploration of Mahdavi’s Iranian-American identity and family history, and a consideration of the capacity for self-reflection and self-compassion through human-animal relationships, Riding offers a roadmap for learning to live in harmony with the self and the environment around us. Mahdavi shows how her relationship with horses gives her insights into intergenerational strength and tools for healing intergenerational trauma. Riding from the mountains of Iran to the beaches of California, Mahdavi shares her love affair with horses, rediscovers a homeland she longs for, and ultimately finds her strength.

1 pages, Audio CD

Published August 5, 2025

Reviews

[Elsie Coen · Rating 2 out of 5]

was hoping this would strike the right chord for me, but for lack of better words it felt quite amateur - both in its reflections on and metaphors of horses and of riding, and in the writing and arc of the short essay. this is the kind of essay that exists in a strange liminal space, feels like maybe it should just remain a diary entry, too horse-crazy for a non-horse person and yet too trite for a tried and true equestrian to relate to

[Meredith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice to have a glimpse at another riding tradition, but ultimately this is just another “woman finds herself through horses” story. The parts with horses are vague and touchy-feely, not actually about the material practice of riding or working with animals.

[Jessica Gullion · Rating 2 out of 5]

I feel like this book had so much potential, but it was quite surface-level. Odd given that the author is an academic. I’d hoped she’d dive more deeply into theory. Or at least told a good story. I think the greatest flaw is that there is a lot of “telling,” and not nearly enough “showing.” It’s a shame because I think this could have been a great book. I just don’t connect with it.