NSLM hosts evening with ‘Astride’ author Eliza McGraw

The National Sporting Library & Museum (NSLM) is hosting an “enlightening evening reception, discussion and book signing” with author and former NSLM John H. Daniels Fellow Eliza McGraw. The topic is her book Astride: Horses, Women, and a Partnership That Shaped America.

The event is scheduled for 5-7 pm on Thursday, March 5, 2026, in Middleburg, Virginia. It will open with a reception, followed by an author discussion, a Q&A and a book signing. Copies of Astride: Horses, Women, and a Partnership That Shaped America will be available for purchase.

Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page to purchase tickets.

Women and the ‘Golden Age of the Horse’

On March 3, 1913, a quarter of a million people gathered in Washington, D.C. to watch 5,000 suffragists march down Pennsylvania Avenue. Leading the procession was a striking figure on a white horse. The figure was Inez Milholland, in long white boots and a cloak bearing a Maltese cross. Channeling Joan of Arc, she steadied the crowd and inspired her fellow marchers from the saddle.

The latter half of the 19th century ushered in a golden age of the horse. This era saw more American women riding, both aside and astride, and take up greater space in public life. Reporters chronicled the riding craze, from Manhattan socialites shopping on horseback to women who trained unruly horses, rustled cattle or raced as jockeys.

Trailblazers and cultural shifts

In Astride: Horses, Women, and a Partnership That Shaped America, Eliza McGraw explores these stories and more. She highlights female pioneers in Thoroughbred breeding, the circus, rescue work and the broader equestrian world. Through their partnership with horses, these trailblazers embraced risk, authority and athleticism. Along the way, they redefined what American women could be. Richly illustrated with period photographs, Astride shows how even incremental cultural shifts can spark lasting progress.

“Eliza McGraw explores a little-known chapter of American history that has great resonance today,” noted Equine Network content director Laurie Prinz. “With fascinating anecdotes and rare period photos, McGraw brings to life the intrepid women who rode astride, challenging social norms and advocating for equal rights. This book is a must-read for anyone interested in history, horses and American heroes.”

McGraw is also a longtime contributor to EQUUS Magazine.

About the NSLM

The National Sporting Library & Museum in Middleburg, Virginia, is dedicated to preserving, promoting and sharing the literature, art and culture of equestrian, anglingand field sports. For more information, call (540) 687-6542 or email [email protected].