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How do we truly come to know another species? Beyond science and behaviour, how do we understand animals in ways that are emotional, imaginative, cultural, and deeply human?
Join us for a unique evening that celebrates the horse not only as a remarkable animal, but as a companion, co-worker, symbol, and source of inspiration. This public event brings together researchers from Ulster University to explore how the Arts and Humanities—through literature, poetry, media, and immersive experience—help deepen our connection with horses.
Dr Kevin De Ornellas will examine how horses appear in Western literature, revealing how writers both sentimentalise and overlook horses—reflecting broader cultural contradictions in how we treat animals. Dr Frank Ferguson will perform poetic readings that capture the power, presence, and emotional richness of equine life, inviting audiences to reflect on what it means to share space with such creatures. Dr Alan Hook will share research into interspecies kinship, exploring how we communicate and bond with horses through emotion, movement, and mutual attention.
Guests will also have the chance to experience Equine Eyes, an immersive simulation designed to let you "see like a horse," offering a striking insight into how these animals perceive the world.
This event is ideal for anyone who loves or works with horses and is curious about how the arts help us imagine, honour, and understand them. It’s a celebration of equine culture—of the stories we tell, the feelings we share, and the deep interconnections that shape our lives with horses.
Free and open to all. Come curious—leave inspired.
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