Horse Girl

My current ongoing project explores the connection between humans and horses.

The subject of this project is Mariah and her five horses. What drew me to explore this narrative through Mariah and her horses was the overwhelming comfort, understanding, and freedom I personally felt when around them. In turn, I learned of her passion for horses she has raised which resonated as both visceral and innate to her being almost as if she was born to do this. Mariah has built a silent language of her own to connect and communicate with her horses. The harmony of life, which boils down to the breath between them, flows into a silent symphony of exhales and inhales. It is all so much more than riding, training, and owning a horse. It’s that connection to nature and ourselves; them and us.

Additionally, I found myself curious about humans' long standing history with horses and how the relationship is depicted. Horses were often a symbol of status and the ultimate depiction of elite masculinity for their strength. Men also viewed horses as a way to physically and ideologically distinguish themselves through their extraordinary abilities – demonstrating their mastery over the natural world. In my work, it is evident that the possession is shared equally between Mariah and the horses, they need her as much as she needs them. Instead she almost becomes another limb for them, supporting and connecting. Today, horses are continued to be portrayed as masculine by their involvement in rodeos or a more classic representation; cowboys. Through my work, I plan to illuminate the strength of a more emotional connection to horses and rewrite the narrative that connects horses to masculinity. The subject of my project is a perfect representation of blurring the lines. The interaction between Mariah and her five horses is one of deep emotions and fragile connections embodied in an animal that endures so much strength and necessity.