Event Blog 3: HORSE

The Hox Zodiac event was a truly fascinating experience where a very simple idea like honoring the role animals play in our lives was explored in a multitude of ways. When I first learnt of the event, it seemed baffling to me that 'HORSE' could be the topic for a discussion between neuroscientists, lecturers, architects etc. However, it was clear that the diversity of occupation on the panel was actually a testimony to the fact that animals touch all our lives in a variety of symbolic and direct ways. One way that stood out for me was Linda Weintraub's account of watching the play Equus and how it informed her views on domestication and man's relation to God. Reading up more about Equus, I found it interesting that when the play was being adapted as a movie, critics believed that using a real horse to play the role of Equus would dampen the abstract concepts that the playwright meant to be communicated - perhaps the play was founded on the idea that horses and man are intertwined and using a real horse would show otherwise (Welsh).

Shaffer, Peter. “Equus.” 1973.

Professor Vesna's statement about horses being used in therapy opened a new world of literature for me where I found out that equine-based therapy is a very vast field where people take care of horses in order to better their own mental health (Clarke). Initially I believed that it was similar to the use of dogs in places like schools as they help calm children down (Bologna), however it turns out that equine-therapy is unique as most of the benefits are derived from upkeep of specific horses whose behavioral patterns and dependence on the human become lessons that one uses to introspect (Brennan). 


Lastly, I liked that the event began with the hosts expressing some very directed gratitude which seemed fitting given that the event was in a way a token of gratitude to horses. It got me thinking of how every animal does play some role in humans' life that elevates beyond nutrition and companionship. Even an animal like the lion teaches about things like pride, maintaining control etc. This is one of the reasons attributed to the success of wildlife documentaries as people derive meaning from the way animals live their life (Morgan).


Wildlife documentaries also consist of a lot of messaging around conservation

Jones, Julia P., et al. “Nature Documentaries and Saving Nature:
Reflections on the New Netflix Series Our Planet.” People and Nature, vol. 1, no. 4, 2019, pp. 420–425., https://doi.org/10.1002/pan3.10052.



Proof of attendance




Welsh, James Michael, and Thomas L. Erskine. Video Versions: Film Adaptations of Plays on Video. Greenwood Publishing Group, 2000.

Jodi Clarke, MA. “Equine Therapy as Mental Health Treatment: How It's Used.” Verywell Mind, Verywell Mind, 14 Oct. 2021, https://www.verywellmind.com/equine-therapy-mental-health-treatment-4177932.

Bologna, Caroline. “How Pets Can Help with Child Mental Health and Development.” HuffPost, HuffPost, 26 Jan. 2021, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/pets-child-mental-health-development_l_60086e22c5b6efae62fe00c4.

Contributors, WebMD Editorial. “Equine Therapy: Learn How Horses Help Mental and Physical Health.” WebMD, WebMD, https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/what-is-equine-therapy-equine-assisted-therapy.

Morgan, E. “Creature Comfort: Why TV Nature Shows Are Good for Mental Health.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 26 Feb. 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/feb/26/creature-comfort-why-tv-nature-shows-are-good-for-mental-health.



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