Since the idea of the EHC came together ten years ago this July, there has been one common request: we should meet in Kentucky!
We are incredibly excited to be able to announce our two year collaboration with the Kentucky Historical Society. We will have a special session at this year’s virtual conference to learn more about the collections and programs at KHS, and next year we will, at last, meet in Kentucky.
Due to this exciting collaboration, we have also decided to extend the deadline for this year’s virtual conference to August 15. Please see the CFP below and let us know if you intend on submitting a paper or have any questions.
About KHS
The Kentucky Historical Society is home to a host of invaluable equine archival collectionsand associated objects. The crown jewel of the KHS equine collections is the Alexander Family/Woodburn Farm Collection, 74 cubic feet of material chronicling five generations of family members (1509–1969) and the extensive involvement in livestock and horse breeding—the most famous horse from Woodburn farm being Lexington, purchased in 1856. Other collections pertaining to equine history include the Gist Family Papers, H. L. Martin Papers, Doram-Rowe Family Collection, and Hughes Family Papers. KHS is also conveniently located near other libraries, archives, universities, and museums in the state, including the Keeneland Library, the Kentucky Derby Museum, and more.
To learn more about KHS’s fellowship program, click here.
For an overview of KHS’s collections previously written by the EHC, click here.
Equine History Collective Virtual Annual Conference 2026
Ways of Being: Equid Experiences of the Five Domains
September 25-27, 2026
How can we understand historical equid experiences? That question is so often at the heart of our work as horsetorians. In veterinary and animal welfare studies, the Five Domains Model is a means of measuring the impact of survival- and situation-related factors on the subjective experiences of more-than-human animals to determine their welfare states. First developed in 1994 by D.J. Mellor and C.S.W. Reid, the framework examines the interrelated conditions of nutrition, physical environment, health, and behavior. In 2020, Mellor et. al. updated the model to emphasize the role human-animal interaction plays in creating animals’ welfare states. Models from other fields of study, like the Five Domains, can become powerful lenses of inquiry for our work in animal history.
For our 2026 virtual conference, the Equine History Collective invites a wide range of proposals exploring historical equid ways of being inspired by the Five Domains Model. How do we understand and investigate historical equid experiences? Can frameworks like the Five Domains Model guide our research? What do we learn when we center these species-specific factors in our study of the past? Is it even possible to understand historical equids’ affective states and how might equid histories change if we pursue them?
Proposals should fall into one of the following categories:
The conference will take place roughly between 9 A.M. and 5 P.M. EDT. As a virtual conference, proposals for pre-recorded individual papers will also be accepted for anyone who would like to add special media or demonstrations that would be difficult to accomplish in real-time. We also accept proposals for alternative presentations.
Panel Session (3 to 4 speakers)
Panel proposals should include:
- Panelists’ names and one-page C.V.s
- Name and contact for panel organizer
- Panel abstract (150 words or less)
- Individual abstracts (250 words or less, ea.)
Individual Paper (presentation 15-20 minutes)
Proposal should include:
- Name and one-page C.V.
- Abstract (250 words or less)
Alternative Presentations:
These presentations might not fit the conventional format of a paper presentation or panel but offer alternative ways to explore the conference theme. These could include but aren’t limited to performances, film presentations, gallery-style exhibits, etc.
Proposal should include:
- Name and one-page C.V.
- Abstract/description (250 words or less)
- Presentation format description (250 words or less)
- Estimated duration
Please submit all materials by August 15, 2026 and direct any questions to EquineHistory@gmail.com.
Please notify us as soon as possible if you intend on submitting a paper.
The EHC values collaborations regardless of institutional affiliation. The organization is committed to accessibility and inclusion. Please let us know of any accessibility concerns or requests.