This is one of the most captivating books in modern equestrian literature. It is poetry, set to the sound of a horse's gentle clip-clop. It is a tale of the gradual uncovering of the secrets of back country Britain. "Eye on the Hill" is much more than just a recollection of this noted traveller's thousand mile journey around England, Wales and Scotland. Barnes is possessed with the critical eye of the travelling poet. He sees the England he loves threatened by the spectre of an ever more aggressive industrialized society. The author turned Long Rider warns about the loss of Britain's horse trails and the need to preserve the country's endangered equestrian culture. Not since William Cobbett rode the back roads of England, has a man noted with such vigour what's right and wrong with his country from horseback. Not since George Borrow cantered with the gypsies has anyone told the tales of the nomads such as Richard Barnes has done.