“Loving-Knowing” Women and Horses

This paper investigates the complexities of relations between women and horses. Through an analysis of literary material, it highlights the therapeutic and empowering potentials that arise as a result of their connection. It makes a discursive analysis of interview material gathered from twenty-two...

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Main Author: Nikki Savvides
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Humanimalia 2011-09-01
Series:Humanimalia
Online Access:https://humanimalia.org/article/view/10058
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author Nikki Savvides
author_facet Nikki Savvides
author_sort Nikki Savvides
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description This paper investigates the complexities of relations between women and horses. Through an analysis of literary material, it highlights the therapeutic and empowering potentials that arise as a result of their connection. It makes a discursive analysis of interview material gathered from twenty-two female Australian horse owners, and, in doing so, challenges the often held idea that women are ‘naturally’ affinitive with horses. The paper analyses the tension between feelings of love and familiarity and matters of conflict between women and their horses, and demonstrates that power plays in their relations may hinder the ability for woman and animal to get along. It reveals the ways in which women have overcome such problems by treating their horses as ‘companions’, allowing the therapeutic and empowering potentials of their relations with horses to be realized.
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spelling doaj.art-aef519911392417391e5273078b9fb642023-10-18T08:37:53ZengHumanimaliaHumanimalia2151-86452011-09-013110.52537/humanimalia.10058“Loving-Knowing” Women and HorsesNikki Savvides This paper investigates the complexities of relations between women and horses. Through an analysis of literary material, it highlights the therapeutic and empowering potentials that arise as a result of their connection. It makes a discursive analysis of interview material gathered from twenty-two female Australian horse owners, and, in doing so, challenges the often held idea that women are ‘naturally’ affinitive with horses. The paper analyses the tension between feelings of love and familiarity and matters of conflict between women and their horses, and demonstrates that power plays in their relations may hinder the ability for woman and animal to get along. It reveals the ways in which women have overcome such problems by treating their horses as ‘companions’, allowing the therapeutic and empowering potentials of their relations with horses to be realized. https://humanimalia.org/article/view/10058
spellingShingle Nikki Savvides
“Loving-Knowing” Women and Horses
Humanimalia
title “Loving-Knowing” Women and Horses
title_full “Loving-Knowing” Women and Horses
title_fullStr “Loving-Knowing” Women and Horses
title_full_unstemmed “Loving-Knowing” Women and Horses
title_short “Loving-Knowing” Women and Horses
title_sort loving knowing women and horses
url https://humanimalia.org/article/view/10058
work_keys_str_mv AT nikkisavvides lovingknowingwomenandhorses