Unstable Relations : Horses, Humans and Social Agency

This original and insightful book explores how horses can be considered as social actors within shared interspecies networks. It examines what we know about how horses understand us and how we perceive them, as well as the implications of actively recognising other animals as actors within shared social lives. This book explores how interspecies relationships work, using a variety of examples to demonstrate how horses and people build social lives. Considering horses as social actors presents new possibilities for improving the quality of animal lives, the human condition and human-horse relations.

Lynda Birke is Visiting Professor in Biological Sciences at the University of Chester, UK. From a background in natural sciences (specialising in ethology), she later focused more on interdisciplinary research in feminist studies and human-animal studies. But more importantly, horses have shaped her life, and it was inevitable that she would eventually figure out a way to do research that included them. Lynda has been involved with equines all her life, from Pony Club, through show jumping and three-day eventing, as well as carriage driving. Her current jumping partners are two feisty mares, Dalusha and Doretha, and she lives with three equally feisty dogs - and her partner - in rural Shropshire.

Kirrilly Thompson is an Associate Professor at Central Queensland University’s Appleton Institute in Adelaide. She is a galloping cultural anthropologist interested in formalising Equestrian Social Science. Her research spans the risk perceptions and behaviours of equestrians, including the potential of human attachments to horses to promote safety and wellbeing. Kirrilly has been training, teaching and competing in pony club, showing and dressage since she was a teenager. She is the human of Angel dog, Chelsea horse, Lavazza horse and Mouse horse.