Category: EHC News

#HippoCampus: Volume 2 Call For Submissions!

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We hope that you all enjoyed the inaugural edition of HippoCampus, the online magazine for Equine History Collective members. We’ve certainly received lots of positive feedback. It’s time for our next call for articles and this time we’re promoting a theme that’s close to our hearts.

The HippoCampus logo

Our HippoCampus logo and title reflect the ongoing fascination with fabulous and mysterious animals, especially those with equine or equid characteristics. Now, we’re turning our attention to another fantastic equid: the unicorn.

Did you know that the 9th April is National Unicorn Day in the UK? The unicorn is famously Scotland’s national animal. Unicorns also have meaning and symbolism for diverse communities for diverse reasons. Help us celebrate unicorns together, internationally and inclusively, with photos, artwork, imagery, and words in our next issue of HippoCampus.

The Unicorn Rests in a Garden. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Cloisters 1495-1505

 

Share your experiences and encounters with unicorns in every kind of space: books, movies, on the street, and in artwork and historic artefacts. What’s more, our next photo competition gives you the opportunity to share your own images of unicorns anywhere and everywhere. “Encountering Unicorns” is the theme, and for those of you who would like to develop it more academically, why not prepare a paper for our forthcoming conference hosted by Roger Williams University in September 2023?

Don’t forget you can also submit reviews, views, good-read suggestions, research updates, good news stories, and more, with or without unicorns!  

  • Brief stories about successes in your research or equine endeavours
  • Updates about research projects (keep it light and lively though, as this is a magazine rather than a scholarly journal)
  • Memorials of hooved and human inspirations
  • Historical notes of the “Did you know?” or “I found this!” variety
  • Vexing questions for the membership to answer
  • Photos of you and your study buddies/support networks, four-legged or otherwise
  • Reviews of equid-related fiction, non-fiction, travel destinations, films, exhibits, and conferences

Send your questions, photos, and other contributions to communications@equinehistory.org by May 1, 2023.  Don’t forget: HippoCampus is available to members of the Equine History Collective only, and if you’d like to continue to have access to the magazine, you need to join the EHC.

And finally: a big thank you to secretary Lonneke Delpeut for the theme proposal. Lonneke’s own fascination with unicorns is, as the saying goes in academic circles, well-documented, and we’re pretty sure she’ll be planning something special for this issue!

 

 

Meet your new EHC Vice President!

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Starting September 1st, Miriam Bibby will take up her new post as Vice President of the EHC and take over from Carolyn Willekes. Carolyn will automatically go into her new role as President.

Miriam began her academic career studying British Prehistory at the University of Nottingham, being awarded a joint honours degree in archaeology and geography. She subsequently engaged (or rather re-engaged, as it had been a childhood interest) with Egyptology at the University of Manchester. Here she gained the Certificate in Egyptology before continuing to study at post-graduate level, gaining her MPhil on the topic of the Horse in Ancient Egypt in 2000. Miriam was also tutor and course developer for the University of Manchester Distance Learning Course in Egyptology.  In 2022, she was awarded a PhD on the Galloway horse, one of her long-term interests. Miriam has edited equestrian and archaeology magazines as well as books, and is currently co-editor-in-chief of Cheiron, the International Journal for Equine and Equestrian History. Her work has been published in numerous journals and magazines, and she has presented papers at many conferences and seminars. She has kept horses for over forty years and currently has two ponies. In the 1980s, she was Chair of the Cheshire-Derbyshire Group of the Endurance Horse and Pony Society, and organised and participated in many long distance rides.

Miriam’s visions for the EHC:

As Vice President I would support the President in building on the strong achievements of the EHC and expanding its work. I consider the following themes to be particularly important: firstly, continuing to establish and promote the EHC as the pre-eminent international organisation for researchers in equine history and related areas. I’d like to assist in broadening the EHC base, working as an international group of scholars to build our knowledge of the human-horse relationship, past, present, and future. The EHC’s diversity is one of its great strengths and I know that expanding this is one of VP Carolyn Willekes’ aims.

Secondly, like EHC secretary Lonneke Delpeut, I would like to proactively seek out scholars in new areas and recruit them, thereby creating the opportunity to reach a wider audience for their research through publication and presentation at conferences. This leads naturally into the third point, publishing, which is very close to my heart, of course.  I think there is a whole discourse to be developed concerning “what constitutes publishing in 2022?” now that we have so many different options. However, one of the gold standards of academic research remains; that is, that research is not complete without publication. I’d like to encourage more publishing, of EHC conference papers for example. Fourthly, recognition of the work of scholars! Perhaps awards to be given at the EHC conference.

Fifthly, building on the fact it’s a collective, and that it has international reach and the potential to network. I summarise this as “having EHC presence”. Perhaps there could be simultaneous events in various locations, and closer involvement with existing events such as Leeds IMC and Kalamazoo. It would also be good to link to events organised by Attelage, The Carriage Foundation, HEMA groups, the American Carriage Association, etc. We could promote their events and have presence at them, use the events to recruit, and also to be mutually supportive. Also, to encourage other organisations to make use of the Cheiron diary and Cheiron newsletter, an initiative of Anastasija Ropa’s which is now edited and circulated by Neleigh Olson. “Having presence” leads naturally into the sixth point, creating strong links with other organisations active in the field: academic institutions, dedicated museums, and so on. We could offer organisational membership. This would have the dual purpose of assisting scholars to find appropriate archives, archivists, and curators for their research. This then leads naturally into discussions about the potential for academic courses of MOOC type, which is one of my areas of experience. I’d like to help develop those too.

Call for Coffee Chats and Seminars!

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The EHC is starting to plan another year of exciting equine-themed events, and you can help us by proposing Coffee Chats and Seminars!

EHC Coffee Chats

The virtual “coffee chat” series allows the EHC to share research and build connections. Organized as panels, roundtables, or conversations, the guest co-hosts organize the speakers for the event. The event is open to the public virtually, and recordings (with permission of speakers) are available online. The EHC started this series in response to the pandemic, and we have been incredibly pleased with the resulting rich discussions and strengthening of the community! The EHC is now reaching out to you to give you the opportunity to propose coffee chat ideas, volunteer as a speaker on a topic in equine history (broadly conceived!) that interests you, or volunteer as a host (co-host) to organize a conversation with multiple speakers. Use this form to submit your proposal!  Though all our events so far have been in English, we welcome ideas for presentations in other languages.

We welcome proposals for Coffee Chats all year round. 

Sometimes we even drink coffee on horseback. EHC VP Carolyn Willekes enjoying a quick cup of coffee following an early morning exercise session with Galahad.

EHC Seminars

EHC Seminars, composed of 8-14 researchers, propose to explore a subject of shared concern related to equine history, theory, and methods. Seminar leaders will guide their group of discussants in developing an end product, such as an article, a list of resources, an exhibit, or a new collaborative project. Each group will present its progress at the annual EHC conference in the spring.

Further information about the EHC Seminars can be found here

Send your proposal to admin@equinehistory.org by July 15, 2022!

We are looking forward to seeing your ideas!

Become an EHC Officer: Nominations are Open!

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Come join our team!
The EHC is looking for a new Vice President and Treasurer. Nominations are open to all interested individuals until May 31st, but if elected you must become a member of the EHC before taking office (if you are not already a member). Voting will take place from June 1st – June 15th: only EHC members with an up to date membership will be able to cast a vote.

The newly elected officers will shadow their predecessors over the summer, before transition into their official role on September 1st. You can nominate yourself, or others, by sending an e-mail to admin@equinehistory.org.

About the elected roles:
Vice-President

The VP is responsible for assisting the President as well as stepping into/substituting for the President as needed.  The VP also serves as the Chair of the Program Committee for the Annual Conference, which involves planning and presenting the program of the Annual Conference, developing a theme, contacting speaker candidates, soliciting and reviewing session proposals, and coordinating with the local conference committee of the host institution. The VP automatically becomes president at the expiration of the current president’s term.

This is a three-year commitment: year one is spent as VP, year two as President, year three as Past President (an ex-officio member of the board).

Treasurer

The Treasurer is responsible for all financial transactions of the Equine History Collective. This includes keeping an accurate record of those transactions, as well as reporting to the Board of Directors and the general membership on the financial condition of the organization. The work of collecting, disbursing, and accounting for funds may be delegated by the Treasurer; however, the Treasurer is responsible for ensuring that the delegated activities are properly carried out and the reports are accurate. The Treasurer is also involved in membership, development, and fundraising for the EHC.

This is a two-year commitment.

We are also looking for nominations for  our Communications Committee:

  • Communications Committee Members (3-4 seats): Assists Secretary and Treasurer with communications to members for CFPs and events, as well as participating in other networking and outreach opportunities. 

If you have any questions about these roles, or would like to nominate someone (including yourself) please get in touch by emailing admin@equinehistory.org

Extended Registration Deadline #EHC2022 Conference

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Join us April 22-24 for “All Creatures Great and Small”, an exciting series of presentations considering relationships between equines and other species, ranging from humans to microorganisms. A plenary lecture from Dr. Susan Nance, behind-the-scenes video tours of famous equine facilities, an online equine art boutique, and book publishers corner will all be part of this virtual conference experience.

The conference registration deadline has been extended until Wednesday April 20, but those who register by Friday April 8  will be entered in a bonus door prize draw!  For additional conference information, and to access the conference registration form, please click here.

This conference is organized by the Equine History Collective (EHC) and generously hosted by the University of Purdue Extension Foundation. Additional sponsors include the W. K. Kellogg Arabian Horse Library at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, California.

We also have official conference merchandise available through the EHC Bonfire page. The conference logo design is by the EHC’s own Christian Krueger (who also created our fantastic EHC logo). See more of her work or commission a piece of your own at https://www.fencelinestudio.com.

Members of the EHC receive reduced conference registration fees. Memberships are available to all and support the EHC, a registered 501(c)3 promoting scholarly and professional opportunities for historians and other researchers investigating equine history.

For more, follow us @Equine_History, # EqHist2022

Meet Your New EHC Officers!

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The EHC received one nomination each for the positions of Vice President and Secretary, and so we are delighted to introduce your new EHC officers! Below are their candidacy statements. 

Vice President Elect: Carolyn Willekes

(Carolyn will automatically become president after the spring 2023 conference.) 

“I am an Assistant Professor in the Department of General Education at Mount Royal University in Calgary, Alberta. I have a PhD in Classics, and my research focuses on equines in the Greek and Roman world – particularly in the contexts of war and sport. Hands-on work is a big part of my research, both in terms of experimental archaeology and field work on horseback in Mediterranean Europe and parts of Central Asia. 

The Equine History Collective is an incredible community, and one of the aspects of this group that I value most is its diversity and inclusiveness as it welcomes individuals from all walks of life who share a common interest in equids. This provides such an incredible opportunity for people to disseminate ideas and get feedback (and just talk about all things equid) from so many different perspectives. As VP of the EHC one of my goals would be to ensure that this community remains (or even grows) in its diversity and breadth, through our annual conference, online events (like the virtual coffee chats), and possibly even through the creation of different public outreach/education programs.”

(You can read more about Carolyn at her #MemberMonday profile by following this link.)

Secretary-elect: Lonneke Delpeut

“When I first learned about the Equine History Collective shortly after its foundation, I was extremely excited to see the gathering, organisation and professionalisation of equine history — a discipline that felt pretty lonely up to that point. In the meantime, I have presented at the first EHC conference among peers, chaired a session at the EHC 2021 conference and am involved in several collaborative projects. I am currently the equine events manager of Cheiron, the International Journal of Equine and Equestrian History. The Equine History Collective has proven to be a source of inspiration and cooperation and I would be honoured to continue this tradition in the role of Secretary. 

I’ve served on several executive boards, among others as secretary of the study association of Egyptology in Leiden and I am currently the secretary of the Luxor Archaeological Heritage Foundation. I have always enjoyed meeting colleagues around the globe and as an Egyptologist am very aware of the importance of collaboration and sharing your research. This is why in 2015 I founded the Association for Students of Egyptology, the first international student association for students of Egyptology. With now over 300 members all over the world, I can say that this experience will help me fulfil the role of secretary within the Equine History Collective.

My main goal for the EHC as secretary would be to continue to professionalise the discipline of equine history. This was a recurring theme at the EHC conference 2021, first brought up by Kate Kanne, and spoke to me the most. No other animal has had such a great influence on human history as the horse, which is still heavily underestimated by many academics. Secondly, I would like to focus my attention on gaining more memberships that are not based in the Americas, specifically in Europe. I believe there are a lot of potential EHC members to be gained in the regions where I am based.” 

(You can read more about Lonneke at her #Member Monday profile by following this link.) 

The current officers are excited to hand over the reins to such a fantastic team! It’s been incredible to see the EHC grow such much in just a few years, and with their leadership, the organization’s future looks bright indeed. 

EHC Conference Proposal Deadline Extended to Nov. 15

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The Equine History Collective (EHC) invites proposals for its fourth annual (and first hybrid) conference, to take place April 22-24, hosted by the Purdue University Extension. The submission deadline has been extended to November 15, 2021.

As a hybrid conference, speakers will be able to present remotely. We have a wonderful international community, so we will do our best to accommodate different time zones!

From the original call for proposals:

This year’s theme, “All Creatures Great and Small,” invites papers that consider how different animal species affect the lives of equids and vice versa. These species could range from microorganisms to humans, and relate to any equine in the past, including donkeys, mules, zebras, and onagers. Questions to consider might include, but certainly are not limited to: To what extent does the notion of “companion species” help explain and define equines and their interactions with other animals? How do microbiotic and ecological communities influence equine health or well-being?  What key inter-relationships between equines and other species have deep historical significance? Under what conditions have people privileged equine labor over the labor of other species, and why? What are ways in which equids are depicted as companions to other species in literature, art, and film? 

These questions are a starting point for considering horses and other animals. Topics might include: conservation, ecology, epizootic and zoonotic disease, veterinary medicine, One Health, interspecies interdependence and intimacy, animal rights, and more. Papers addressing equine history in any time period are welcome. 

The conference will take place roughly between 9 am-5 pm CDT. As a hybrid conference, proposals for pre-recorded individual papers and lightning talks will also be accepted for anyone who would be unable to attend in person or who would like to add special media or demonstrations that would be difficult to accomplish live. We also accept proposals for alternative presentations like performing art pieces or exhibits, and welcome your creativity. 

Proposals should fall into one of the following categories:

Panel Session (3 to 4 speakers) 

When proposing a panel, we ask that at least one of the speakers be able to present in person. The other papers may be virtual or pre-recorded. 

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.)
  • Whether the speakers intend to give live, virtual, or pre-recorded papers (subject to change)

Individual Paper (presentation 15-20 minutes) 

Proposal should include: 

  • Name and one-page C.V. 
  • Abstract (250 words or less)
  • Whether the speaker intends to give live, virtual, or pre-recorded papers (subject to change)

Lightning Talk (presentation under 10 minutes)

Proposal should include: 

  • Name and one-page C.V. 
  • Abstract (250 words or less) 
  • Whether the speaker intends to give live, virtual, or pre-recorded papers (subject to change)

Alternative Presentations: 

These should be virtual or pre-recorded. Examples include: performing art pieces, museum exhibits (video walk through or virtual), demonstrations, etc.

  • Name and one-page C.V. 
  • Abstract/description (250 words or less)
  • Estimated duration 

We understand that contingencies may arise that may prevent a speaker from presenting in the originally intended format (in person, live, pre-recorded). We ask that authors who present a pre-recorded paper be present for the Q&A. 

Deadline for Submission: November 15, 2021

Please submit all materials and direct any questions to admin@equinehistory.org. 

The Program Committee will notify all those who submitted proposals of its decision in December.

EHC 2022 Call for Papers: All Creatures Great and Small

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The Equine History Collective (EHC) invites proposals for its fourth annual (and first hybrid) conference, to take place April 22-24, hosted by the Purdue University Extension. The submission deadline is November 1, 2021. 

This year’s theme, “All Creatures Great and Small,” invites papers that consider how different animal species affect the lives of equids and vice versa. These species could range from microorganisms to humans, and relate to any equine in the past, including donkeys, mules, zebras, and onagers. Questions to consider might include, but certainly are not limited to: To what extent does the notion of “companion species” help explain and define equines and their interactions with other animals? How do microbiotic and ecological communities influence equine health or well-being?  What key inter-relationships between equines and other species have deep historical significance? Under what conditions have people privileged equine labor over the labor of other species, and why? What are ways in which equids are depicted as companions to other species in literature, art, and film? 

These questions are a starting point for considering horses and other animals. Topics might include: conservation, ecology, epizootic and zoonotic disease, veterinary medicine, One Health, interspecies interdependence and intimacy, animal rights, and more. Papers addressing equine history in any time period are welcome. 

The conference will take place roughly between 9 am-5 pm CDT. As a hybrid conference, proposals for pre-recorded individual papers and lightning talks will also be accepted for anyone who would be unable to attend in person or who would like to add special media or demonstrations that would be difficult to accomplish live. We also accept proposals for alternative presentations like performing art pieces or exhibits, and welcome your creativity. 

Proposals should fall into one of the following categories:

Panel Session (3 to 4 speakers) 

When proposing a panel, we ask that at least one of the speakers be able to present in person. The other papers may be virtual or pre-recorded. 

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.)
  • Whether the speakers intend to give live, virtual, or pre-recorded papers (subject to change)

Individual Paper (presentation 15-20 minutes) 

Proposal should include: 

  • Name and one-page C.V. 
  • Abstract (250 words or less)
  • Whether the speaker intends to give live, virtual, or pre-recorded papers (subject to change)

Lightning Talk (presentation under 10 minutes)

Proposal should include: 

  • Name and one-page C.V. 
  • Abstract (250 words or less) 
  • Whether the speaker intends to give live, virtual, or pre-recorded papers (subject to change)

Alternative Presentations: 

These should be virtual or pre-recorded. Examples include: performing art pieces, museum exhibits (video walk through or virtual), demonstrations, etc.

  • Name and one-page C.V. 
  • Abstract/description (250 words or less)
  • Estimated duration 

We understand that contingencies may arise that may prevent a speaker from presenting in the originally intended format (in person, live, pre-recorded). We ask that authors who present a pre-recorded paper be present for the Q&A. 

Deadline for Submission: November 1, 2021

Please submit all materials and direct any questions to admin@equinehistory.org. 

The Program Committee will notify all those who submitted proposals of its decision in December.

EHC Seminars: Call for Participants

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This past spring, the EHC launched a new initiative to sponsor seminars. We are excited to announce the seminars for the upcoming year! These explore a subject of shared concern related to equine history, theory, and methods. Seminar leaders will guide their group of discussants in developing an end product, such as an article, a list of resources, an exhibit, or a new collaborative project. Each group will present its progress at the annual EHC conference in the spring.

Apply now to be part of an EHC Seminar! The seminar organizers are now accepting applications from anyone who would like to participate in them. The general topic of each seminar is described below. For more information about each seminar, how to apply, and the contact information of the organizers, please click on the links below. 

Equine Breeds: The Thoroughbred

Click here to learn more & apply!

Organizers: Kristen Guest and Monica Mattfeld 
Application deadline: Oct. 15

The history of the Thoroughbred is generally well known. The breed’s story can be found in a plethora of popular histories that focus on specific famous racehorses, local histories of the turf, or general overviews of the breed’s history, and in excellent work from scholars such as Donna Landry, Richard Nash, and Rebecca Cassidy. Explored in relation to national rhetoric, political scandal, sport history, breeding practices, biography, race, and breed registries, the Thoroughbred is arguably the most studied equine breed in history. However, there are still some large questions associated with the development of the breed and its role in the history of ‘breed’ itself during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. For example, the place of the Thoroughbred within the shift from landrace breeding to pedigree breeding at the end of the eighteenth century is well established, but how far back this history stretches is a question that is still understudied. Similarly, once pedigree, and its associations with breed purity, developed in relation to the British Thoroughbred, how these impact Thoroughbred breeding in Europe, the Americas, and the rest of the world is radically understudied. What happens to the Thoroughbred’s associations with British national identity, purity, and ‘blood’ in the context of empire and colonialism? How do the discourses, associations, and practices of ‘Thoroughbred’ and ‘Breed’ change from the early modern period to the present?

Archaeology for Historians, History for Archaeologists: Cross-Disciplinary Approaches in Human-Equid Studies

Click here to learn more & apply!

Organizers: Helene Benkert, Katherine Kanne, Kim Chun Ho, and Camille Mai Lan Vo Van Qui
Application deadline: Nov. 1

The study of human-equid relationships of the past is inherently cross-disciplinary, drawing on archaeology, history, art history, animal studies, anthropology, equine science, equitation science and more. Archaeologists and historians increasingly borrow from each other, but may lack specialist disciplinary knowledge and key aspects of each other’s research methods and theory. In this seminar, we wish to increase knowledge and collaboration between archaeologists, historians, and scholars in other disciplines by considering the ways in which we can benefit one another by working together, sharing approaches, data, and sources. For scholars researching the same period in history there is obvious overlap, but there is also much to be gained by examining the human-equid relationship in the longue durée, with comparative materials from different times.