A heavy horse galloping with swinging mane and flowing tail, in ceremonial barding or armour, is a magnificent sight and one that reminds many of us of the drama and romance of the ‘great’ horse of the Middle Ages (476 AD – 1453). The ‘Medieval’ horse is a vision increasinglyRead More →
Today we’re exploring pony stories and humorous cartoons. Pony stories feed our obsessions and provide insight into the skills and ethics of horsemanship and horse care. Beautifully illustrated pony stories also stimulate an appreciation of art and an interest in drawing. Some pony books, the ones we are looking atRead More →
Rider wear is an area of sports clothing where history, function and symbolism are uniquely interwoven. Simultaneously, the very essence of riding wear is to underscore the nobility of the horse itself, not exceed it, or draw attention away from it.1 Therefore, riding wear has traditionally been sober and understated.Read More →
Sometimes, we have no idea where a road will lead us. We follow it because opportunities present themselves and it’s easier to move with the doors that open rather than fight with the doors that close. After a nasty horse accident, I was getting my confidence back by riding aRead More →
Legacies of strength: Aboriginal Stockwomen. From the point of first contact with European explorers and pastoralists, Indigenous Australians used art to better understand the strange new animals that were appearing on their country. The first horses they saw would have actually been ponies from Timor that had been brought overRead More →
…And “the Loveliest of All” was the Unicorn! This month we explore the unicorn; from its distinctly not-so-cute past in myth, art and history to its sparkly, commodified image today. One characteristic of the unicorn that rings true for today’s horse people lies in the unicorn’s perennial concern in helpingRead More →
The horse in Australia has played a central role in the formation of our national identity. The distinctive Australian values of mateship, toughness, anti-authoritarianism, and concern for the ‘battler’ were carved out in the presence of horses. From the ponies who arrived here on the First Fleet in January 1788,Read More →
Equine Artist Yvette Frahn “I challenge you to do a painting a day.” Yvette Frahn had been working part-time as an equine artist for some time when her friend set the challenge to her – to create one new work a day. Yvette was momentarily at a loss – whereRead More →
