Joanna here, talking about a British hill figure, the White Horse of Uffington.
This is Nicola’s neighborhood, as you see here. I will nonetheless forge on bravely into her bailiwick.
Okay. Let’s say you’re a Regency miss visiting friends in Oxfordshire in the parish of Uffington. Even though the White Horse can be seen twenty miles away, your carriage arrived in the Vale of the White Horse at night. You had to pull yourself out of bed at dawn to creep out in the garden and finally see it.
A skimped, hurried breakfast and you’re off. This is Midsummer’s Day. You drive through throngs in the morning to get to the White Horse. You’re not surprised there’s a fair and foodstalls, jugs of beer, and sports. Midsummer’s Day is always a big event. You have a village fair back home in Yorkshire. But this is huge. Beyond 
anything. There must be thousands of people here.
You’re in time to see the festivities start. The young men gather in a troop, up spade, shovel, mattocks, and hoe, and head up hill for the “scouring of the White Horse.” All the nearby towns, you’ll be told, claim a role in the scouring and restoration of the White Horse by ancient custom.
Now I will break into your Regency scene here and say that I have been to the White Horse of Uffington myself. It’s impressive. There it is, carved into the endless green, 374 feet long, 227 feet high. Designed to be in proportion when viewed from below. It’s . . . big.
The figure is on the side of that sloping hill, just a lazy walk from the road below. It was clear and quiet when I was there. The figure feels very old. The artistic convention of it is sophisticated, but alien. And it’s beautiful.
There’s a superstition that if you stand in the ‘eye’ of the horse and make a wish, it’ll come true. So I did that. And it pretty much did.
Back to the Regency, where I spend much of my time. Your giggly friend twirls her umbrella and admires the manly form of the local squire’s son who’s joined the village lads scraping away at the encroaching vegetation.
You climb the hill with the others to get a close look. The White Horse is made simply enough. You can walk over and see how the shape of it is cut into the ground. This chalky ground underfoot has fascinated you from the first. The paths bordering the garden at your friend’s house are all perfectly, dazzlingly white. The stones in the fields are white. Under a layer of grass and dirt, you find chalk. The White Horse was created when people scraped away the grass, set the edges, and filled in level with more chalk. But in every generation since then, these people have kept the figure alive. You’re lucky enough to see it happen when you arrive at the one-year-in-seven festival when the White Horse is ‘scoured’.
Come for the dancing, singing and drinking, stay for the legends. 
The White Horse, you’ll be told, was dug in the Ninth Century to commemorate King Alfred’s victory over the pagans. You’ll hear that the White Horse is a mare and has an invisible foal that sits beside her. They go together to Woolstone Wells at night to have a drink.
Maybe the squire’s son will come by to point out Dragon Hill, just below. He’ll tell you that’s where St. George killed the dragon. ”Some say this isn’t a white horse at all, but a dragon.”
Then the scholarly vicar comes along. “It’s Pendragon Hill, actually,” he’ll say. “Arthur was killed in battle here and buried there.”
Below the White Horse the ground dips away in folds and valleys and forms a steep bowl called ‘The Manger’. The squire’s son says, “We’ll do the Cheese Roll there. They loose a round of cheese at the top and everyone scrambles after it. With the amount of ale in everyone, there’ll be broken bones and cracked heads by the end of it.”
The vicar sniffs disapprovingly.
But these legends and old stories don’t tell the half of it. The Uffington Horse is OLD. It was ancient when King Alfred fought and defeated the Danes in battle in 871.
The design—sinuous, abstract, with the curiously ‘beaked’ head—hinted at a familiar Celtic representations. At the beginning of the Twentieth Century experts remarked on the resemblance to horses found on coins of the Celtic tribe Atrebates, local to the area. Could the White Horse be the model for those coins? Could it be as old as the Roman invasion of England?
We ain’t there yet. No.
Older than King Alfred. Older than the Romans. The White Horse was running on that hill when the Atrebates were dealing with that pesky influx of pedites and centurions. Optical stimulated luminescence—you know, that old stuff— of the chalk tipped into the very first, very bottom, of the initial fill indicate the White Horse might date between 1200 and 800 BCE. That would make the White Horse more than two thousand years older than any other existing figures. It was the precursor and model for the earliest of the other hill figure horses in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.
They were still making hill figures in the Regency. Our adventurous miss could have visited Dorset in 1808 to watch the creation of the Osmington White Horse or Wiltshire in 1812 to see the Alton Barnes White Horse being cut.
I look at the hill figure and I wonder. Do we see anything of the original design after 3000 years of communal ‘scouring’ and cleaning, the natural silting over and erosion? The Celtic coins tell us that 2000 years ago the figure of the White Horse may have held much the same form it does today. Can I hope that spirit and artistry somehow stretches back three millennia and that the White Horse has been galloping, wild and free, that long?
Uffington Horse photo attrib DavePrice. white horse attrib jeanetienneminhduy
What’s your favorite representation of a horse? Comment below. Feel free to add a URL so we can see what it is you love. One lucky commenter will win a copy of Rogue Spy.
So it’s probable that the horse on the coins minted by the Atrebates was inspired by the White Horse? Fascinating. And so it’s image was circulated further and across the world.
So it’s probable that the horse on the coins minted by the Atrebates was inspired by the White Horse? Fascinating. And so it’s image was circulated further and across the world.
So it’s probable that the horse on the coins minted by the Atrebates was inspired by the White Horse? Fascinating. And so it’s image was circulated further and across the world.
So it’s probable that the horse on the coins minted by the Atrebates was inspired by the White Horse? Fascinating. And so it’s image was circulated further and across the world.
So it’s probable that the horse on the coins minted by the Atrebates was inspired by the White Horse? Fascinating. And so it’s image was circulated further and across the world.
I love the way you wove that story, Joanna. You were fortunate to stand in its eye and wish. When I read about the Uffington horse on the Wiltshire White Horses page, it said that in 2004 they were fencing it in. I know they have to protect these sites (including Stonehenge) from all our human destructive effects, intended or not, but it’s so much more visceral when one can interact with the monument. At least the White Horse was intended to be viewed from a distance. And your Regency vignette helped bring it home.
In my area (Arizona, US), we have ancient Indian petroglyphs, though none on that scale. No horses (brought by the Spanish later). But they do include bison, perhaps an indication of where to hunt them or a sort of prayer for a good hunt. And my favorite, Kokopelli, the flute player, the subject of some interesting, and sometimes prurient, legends.
I love the way you wove that story, Joanna. You were fortunate to stand in its eye and wish. When I read about the Uffington horse on the Wiltshire White Horses page, it said that in 2004 they were fencing it in. I know they have to protect these sites (including Stonehenge) from all our human destructive effects, intended or not, but it’s so much more visceral when one can interact with the monument. At least the White Horse was intended to be viewed from a distance. And your Regency vignette helped bring it home.
In my area (Arizona, US), we have ancient Indian petroglyphs, though none on that scale. No horses (brought by the Spanish later). But they do include bison, perhaps an indication of where to hunt them or a sort of prayer for a good hunt. And my favorite, Kokopelli, the flute player, the subject of some interesting, and sometimes prurient, legends.
I love the way you wove that story, Joanna. You were fortunate to stand in its eye and wish. When I read about the Uffington horse on the Wiltshire White Horses page, it said that in 2004 they were fencing it in. I know they have to protect these sites (including Stonehenge) from all our human destructive effects, intended or not, but it’s so much more visceral when one can interact with the monument. At least the White Horse was intended to be viewed from a distance. And your Regency vignette helped bring it home.
In my area (Arizona, US), we have ancient Indian petroglyphs, though none on that scale. No horses (brought by the Spanish later). But they do include bison, perhaps an indication of where to hunt them or a sort of prayer for a good hunt. And my favorite, Kokopelli, the flute player, the subject of some interesting, and sometimes prurient, legends.
I love the way you wove that story, Joanna. You were fortunate to stand in its eye and wish. When I read about the Uffington horse on the Wiltshire White Horses page, it said that in 2004 they were fencing it in. I know they have to protect these sites (including Stonehenge) from all our human destructive effects, intended or not, but it’s so much more visceral when one can interact with the monument. At least the White Horse was intended to be viewed from a distance. And your Regency vignette helped bring it home.
In my area (Arizona, US), we have ancient Indian petroglyphs, though none on that scale. No horses (brought by the Spanish later). But they do include bison, perhaps an indication of where to hunt them or a sort of prayer for a good hunt. And my favorite, Kokopelli, the flute player, the subject of some interesting, and sometimes prurient, legends.
I love the way you wove that story, Joanna. You were fortunate to stand in its eye and wish. When I read about the Uffington horse on the Wiltshire White Horses page, it said that in 2004 they were fencing it in. I know they have to protect these sites (including Stonehenge) from all our human destructive effects, intended or not, but it’s so much more visceral when one can interact with the monument. At least the White Horse was intended to be viewed from a distance. And your Regency vignette helped bring it home.
In my area (Arizona, US), we have ancient Indian petroglyphs, though none on that scale. No horses (brought by the Spanish later). But they do include bison, perhaps an indication of where to hunt them or a sort of prayer for a good hunt. And my favorite, Kokopelli, the flute player, the subject of some interesting, and sometimes prurient, legends.
The horses I remember the most are the battle horses in Egyptian art. The link is to a site that sells images.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/70800784/egyptian-art-egypt-faces-horse-chariot
My father loved Remmington’s horses.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/135037688799259911/
The horses I remember the most are the battle horses in Egyptian art. The link is to a site that sells images.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/70800784/egyptian-art-egypt-faces-horse-chariot
My father loved Remmington’s horses.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/135037688799259911/
The horses I remember the most are the battle horses in Egyptian art. The link is to a site that sells images.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/70800784/egyptian-art-egypt-faces-horse-chariot
My father loved Remmington’s horses.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/135037688799259911/
The horses I remember the most are the battle horses in Egyptian art. The link is to a site that sells images.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/70800784/egyptian-art-egypt-faces-horse-chariot
My father loved Remmington’s horses.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/135037688799259911/
The horses I remember the most are the battle horses in Egyptian art. The link is to a site that sells images.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/70800784/egyptian-art-egypt-faces-horse-chariot
My father loved Remmington’s horses.
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/135037688799259911/
Mary, I totally agree about the visceral intensity of the interaction with these monuments if they are not fenced in (or people are not shut out.) I’m happy to report that the Uffington White Horse is not shut away behind a fence but is still on the open hillside.
Mary, I totally agree about the visceral intensity of the interaction with these monuments if they are not fenced in (or people are not shut out.) I’m happy to report that the Uffington White Horse is not shut away behind a fence but is still on the open hillside.
Mary, I totally agree about the visceral intensity of the interaction with these monuments if they are not fenced in (or people are not shut out.) I’m happy to report that the Uffington White Horse is not shut away behind a fence but is still on the open hillside.
Mary, I totally agree about the visceral intensity of the interaction with these monuments if they are not fenced in (or people are not shut out.) I’m happy to report that the Uffington White Horse is not shut away behind a fence but is still on the open hillside.
Mary, I totally agree about the visceral intensity of the interaction with these monuments if they are not fenced in (or people are not shut out.) I’m happy to report that the Uffington White Horse is not shut away behind a fence but is still on the open hillside.
Joanna, any time you wish to venture into my bailiwick you are very welcome! A wonderful story about the iconic horse and its legends. BTW the Regency squire was Lord Craven of “my” Ashdown House. He owned White Horse Hill and his estate was centred on Uffington. Ashdown is only a couple of miles away as the horse gallops.
Joanna, any time you wish to venture into my bailiwick you are very welcome! A wonderful story about the iconic horse and its legends. BTW the Regency squire was Lord Craven of “my” Ashdown House. He owned White Horse Hill and his estate was centred on Uffington. Ashdown is only a couple of miles away as the horse gallops.
Joanna, any time you wish to venture into my bailiwick you are very welcome! A wonderful story about the iconic horse and its legends. BTW the Regency squire was Lord Craven of “my” Ashdown House. He owned White Horse Hill and his estate was centred on Uffington. Ashdown is only a couple of miles away as the horse gallops.
Joanna, any time you wish to venture into my bailiwick you are very welcome! A wonderful story about the iconic horse and its legends. BTW the Regency squire was Lord Craven of “my” Ashdown House. He owned White Horse Hill and his estate was centred on Uffington. Ashdown is only a couple of miles away as the horse gallops.
Joanna, any time you wish to venture into my bailiwick you are very welcome! A wonderful story about the iconic horse and its legends. BTW the Regency squire was Lord Craven of “my” Ashdown House. He owned White Horse Hill and his estate was centred on Uffington. Ashdown is only a couple of miles away as the horse gallops.
Coo, that is amazing!
Coo, that is amazing!
Coo, that is amazing!
Coo, that is amazing!
Coo, that is amazing!
I thank you for this story of the White Horse. I look at it and see a painting by Picasso or Dali. Almost but not quite. Whoever created it – loved what they were doing and loved the idea of a horse. And I thank you for sharing with us.
I thank you for this story of the White Horse. I look at it and see a painting by Picasso or Dali. Almost but not quite. Whoever created it – loved what they were doing and loved the idea of a horse. And I thank you for sharing with us.
I thank you for this story of the White Horse. I look at it and see a painting by Picasso or Dali. Almost but not quite. Whoever created it – loved what they were doing and loved the idea of a horse. And I thank you for sharing with us.
I thank you for this story of the White Horse. I look at it and see a painting by Picasso or Dali. Almost but not quite. Whoever created it – loved what they were doing and loved the idea of a horse. And I thank you for sharing with us.
I thank you for this story of the White Horse. I look at it and see a painting by Picasso or Dali. Almost but not quite. Whoever created it – loved what they were doing and loved the idea of a horse. And I thank you for sharing with us.
Wonderful, Joanna! I visited the White Horse when I lived in Oxford, and it’s pretty darned impressive, but I didn’t know all that history. To be honest, I remember that it was wet and rainy and I slipped on the grass and got seriously muddy. *G* I need to visit again now that I know more of the history!
Wonderful, Joanna! I visited the White Horse when I lived in Oxford, and it’s pretty darned impressive, but I didn’t know all that history. To be honest, I remember that it was wet and rainy and I slipped on the grass and got seriously muddy. *G* I need to visit again now that I know more of the history!
Wonderful, Joanna! I visited the White Horse when I lived in Oxford, and it’s pretty darned impressive, but I didn’t know all that history. To be honest, I remember that it was wet and rainy and I slipped on the grass and got seriously muddy. *G* I need to visit again now that I know more of the history!
Wonderful, Joanna! I visited the White Horse when I lived in Oxford, and it’s pretty darned impressive, but I didn’t know all that history. To be honest, I remember that it was wet and rainy and I slipped on the grass and got seriously muddy. *G* I need to visit again now that I know more of the history!
Wonderful, Joanna! I visited the White Horse when I lived in Oxford, and it’s pretty darned impressive, but I didn’t know all that history. To be honest, I remember that it was wet and rainy and I slipped on the grass and got seriously muddy. *G* I need to visit again now that I know more of the history!
Thank you so much for sharing and for the photos.The monument and the history are amazing. I am so glad you chose to tell us about it. I live an ocean and a continent away, but you opened a window on a different world.
Thank you so much for sharing and for the photos.The monument and the history are amazing. I am so glad you chose to tell us about it. I live an ocean and a continent away, but you opened a window on a different world.
Thank you so much for sharing and for the photos.The monument and the history are amazing. I am so glad you chose to tell us about it. I live an ocean and a continent away, but you opened a window on a different world.
Thank you so much for sharing and for the photos.The monument and the history are amazing. I am so glad you chose to tell us about it. I live an ocean and a continent away, but you opened a window on a different world.
Thank you so much for sharing and for the photos.The monument and the history are amazing. I am so glad you chose to tell us about it. I live an ocean and a continent away, but you opened a window on a different world.
That the horse on the hill and the Celtic coins came from one artistic tradition was the think for most of the Twentieth Century. In the absence of any other evidence, it seemed a good bet.
Now — these new ways of testing the age of soils lead us to think the horse pre-dated the coins. That the coins were made because the horse had become a tribal symbol for the Celtic peoples who settled the area.
The horse might have been made by their distance ancestors, folks we know very little about.
That the horse on the hill and the Celtic coins came from one artistic tradition was the think for most of the Twentieth Century. In the absence of any other evidence, it seemed a good bet.
Now — these new ways of testing the age of soils lead us to think the horse pre-dated the coins. That the coins were made because the horse had become a tribal symbol for the Celtic peoples who settled the area.
The horse might have been made by their distance ancestors, folks we know very little about.
That the horse on the hill and the Celtic coins came from one artistic tradition was the think for most of the Twentieth Century. In the absence of any other evidence, it seemed a good bet.
Now — these new ways of testing the age of soils lead us to think the horse pre-dated the coins. That the coins were made because the horse had become a tribal symbol for the Celtic peoples who settled the area.
The horse might have been made by their distance ancestors, folks we know very little about.
That the horse on the hill and the Celtic coins came from one artistic tradition was the think for most of the Twentieth Century. In the absence of any other evidence, it seemed a good bet.
Now — these new ways of testing the age of soils lead us to think the horse pre-dated the coins. That the coins were made because the horse had become a tribal symbol for the Celtic peoples who settled the area.
The horse might have been made by their distance ancestors, folks we know very little about.
That the horse on the hill and the Celtic coins came from one artistic tradition was the think for most of the Twentieth Century. In the absence of any other evidence, it seemed a good bet.
Now — these new ways of testing the age of soils lead us to think the horse pre-dated the coins. That the coins were made because the horse had become a tribal symbol for the Celtic peoples who settled the area.
The horse might have been made by their distance ancestors, folks we know very little about.
I’ve been very lucky. I’ve stood in the eye of the horse. I’ve walked through Stonehenge in the morning, just alone really. I’ve put my hands on the columns of the Acropolis and the porch of the Caryatids. I’ve touched a mortar literally tens of thousands of years old and put my hands were the stone is worn away where my distant ancestors ground what or barley. I’ve walked down into the darkness of prehistoric cairns on the hillside.
I’m the last generation that will be allowed to do that.
Your petroglyphs are so exciting. Never seen them except on TV documentaries. Hope to someday.
I’ve been very lucky. I’ve stood in the eye of the horse. I’ve walked through Stonehenge in the morning, just alone really. I’ve put my hands on the columns of the Acropolis and the porch of the Caryatids. I’ve touched a mortar literally tens of thousands of years old and put my hands were the stone is worn away where my distant ancestors ground what or barley. I’ve walked down into the darkness of prehistoric cairns on the hillside.
I’m the last generation that will be allowed to do that.
Your petroglyphs are so exciting. Never seen them except on TV documentaries. Hope to someday.
I’ve been very lucky. I’ve stood in the eye of the horse. I’ve walked through Stonehenge in the morning, just alone really. I’ve put my hands on the columns of the Acropolis and the porch of the Caryatids. I’ve touched a mortar literally tens of thousands of years old and put my hands were the stone is worn away where my distant ancestors ground what or barley. I’ve walked down into the darkness of prehistoric cairns on the hillside.
I’m the last generation that will be allowed to do that.
Your petroglyphs are so exciting. Never seen them except on TV documentaries. Hope to someday.
I’ve been very lucky. I’ve stood in the eye of the horse. I’ve walked through Stonehenge in the morning, just alone really. I’ve put my hands on the columns of the Acropolis and the porch of the Caryatids. I’ve touched a mortar literally tens of thousands of years old and put my hands were the stone is worn away where my distant ancestors ground what or barley. I’ve walked down into the darkness of prehistoric cairns on the hillside.
I’m the last generation that will be allowed to do that.
Your petroglyphs are so exciting. Never seen them except on TV documentaries. Hope to someday.
I’ve been very lucky. I’ve stood in the eye of the horse. I’ve walked through Stonehenge in the morning, just alone really. I’ve put my hands on the columns of the Acropolis and the porch of the Caryatids. I’ve touched a mortar literally tens of thousands of years old and put my hands were the stone is worn away where my distant ancestors ground what or barley. I’ve walked down into the darkness of prehistoric cairns on the hillside.
I’m the last generation that will be allowed to do that.
Your petroglyphs are so exciting. Never seen them except on TV documentaries. Hope to someday.
What beautiful Egyptian horses. I’ve seen those chariots depicted many times but never really noticed the beauty of the animals drawing them.
What beautiful Egyptian horses. I’ve seen those chariots depicted many times but never really noticed the beauty of the animals drawing them.
What beautiful Egyptian horses. I’ve seen those chariots depicted many times but never really noticed the beauty of the animals drawing them.
What beautiful Egyptian horses. I’ve seen those chariots depicted many times but never really noticed the beauty of the animals drawing them.
What beautiful Egyptian horses. I’ve seen those chariots depicted many times but never really noticed the beauty of the animals drawing them.
There. You see. Perfectly real people doing all these cool things in the Regency.
Why don’t we see any Regencies about the heroine ‘scouring out’ and saving an old hill figure on her land, keeping it alive into the Nineteenth Century, rescuing it.
There. You see. Perfectly real people doing all these cool things in the Regency.
Why don’t we see any Regencies about the heroine ‘scouring out’ and saving an old hill figure on her land, keeping it alive into the Nineteenth Century, rescuing it.
There. You see. Perfectly real people doing all these cool things in the Regency.
Why don’t we see any Regencies about the heroine ‘scouring out’ and saving an old hill figure on her land, keeping it alive into the Nineteenth Century, rescuing it.
There. You see. Perfectly real people doing all these cool things in the Regency.
Why don’t we see any Regencies about the heroine ‘scouring out’ and saving an old hill figure on her land, keeping it alive into the Nineteenth Century, rescuing it.
There. You see. Perfectly real people doing all these cool things in the Regency.
Why don’t we see any Regencies about the heroine ‘scouring out’ and saving an old hill figure on her land, keeping it alive into the Nineteenth Century, rescuing it.
It’s amazing to see these. Most hill figures are, at most, four centuries old.
The age of this one just blows me away.
It’s amazing to see these. Most hill figures are, at most, four centuries old.
The age of this one just blows me away.
It’s amazing to see these. Most hill figures are, at most, four centuries old.
The age of this one just blows me away.
It’s amazing to see these. Most hill figures are, at most, four centuries old.
The age of this one just blows me away.
It’s amazing to see these. Most hill figures are, at most, four centuries old.
The age of this one just blows me away.
Doesn’t it look abstract and modern? Celtic art — and this looks Celtic to my mind — could have been created last week.
Doesn’t it look abstract and modern? Celtic art — and this looks Celtic to my mind — could have been created last week.
Doesn’t it look abstract and modern? Celtic art — and this looks Celtic to my mind — could have been created last week.
Doesn’t it look abstract and modern? Celtic art — and this looks Celtic to my mind — could have been created last week.
Doesn’t it look abstract and modern? Celtic art — and this looks Celtic to my mind — could have been created last week.
The amazing age on it.
I think of that line of unbroken custody of this art work. It’s not something that happened to survive in some grave. This took serious work, generation after generation.
I think how many times wars took place across it and the rulers of that area changed. And yet, nobody put that land under tillage. Every seven years or every decade, folks stepped up to see the scouring was done.
Almost makes you think of a secret line of caretakers …
The amazing age on it.
I think of that line of unbroken custody of this art work. It’s not something that happened to survive in some grave. This took serious work, generation after generation.
I think how many times wars took place across it and the rulers of that area changed. And yet, nobody put that land under tillage. Every seven years or every decade, folks stepped up to see the scouring was done.
Almost makes you think of a secret line of caretakers …
The amazing age on it.
I think of that line of unbroken custody of this art work. It’s not something that happened to survive in some grave. This took serious work, generation after generation.
I think how many times wars took place across it and the rulers of that area changed. And yet, nobody put that land under tillage. Every seven years or every decade, folks stepped up to see the scouring was done.
Almost makes you think of a secret line of caretakers …
The amazing age on it.
I think of that line of unbroken custody of this art work. It’s not something that happened to survive in some grave. This took serious work, generation after generation.
I think how many times wars took place across it and the rulers of that area changed. And yet, nobody put that land under tillage. Every seven years or every decade, folks stepped up to see the scouring was done.
Almost makes you think of a secret line of caretakers …
The amazing age on it.
I think of that line of unbroken custody of this art work. It’s not something that happened to survive in some grave. This took serious work, generation after generation.
I think how many times wars took place across it and the rulers of that area changed. And yet, nobody put that land under tillage. Every seven years or every decade, folks stepped up to see the scouring was done.
Almost makes you think of a secret line of caretakers …
When I was researching this on the net I was surprised how little I could find out about the folks who are likely to have made it originally. Lost in the mists of time and all …
When I was researching this on the net I was surprised how little I could find out about the folks who are likely to have made it originally. Lost in the mists of time and all …
When I was researching this on the net I was surprised how little I could find out about the folks who are likely to have made it originally. Lost in the mists of time and all …
When I was researching this on the net I was surprised how little I could find out about the folks who are likely to have made it originally. Lost in the mists of time and all …
When I was researching this on the net I was surprised how little I could find out about the folks who are likely to have made it originally. Lost in the mists of time and all …
I grew up by the Uffington White horse, and always felt very proud of it. Now I live near another chalk horse in Sussex, but this one was made in the 1920s so it’s only really a foal in comparison! Thanks for the post 🙂
I grew up by the Uffington White horse, and always felt very proud of it. Now I live near another chalk horse in Sussex, but this one was made in the 1920s so it’s only really a foal in comparison! Thanks for the post 🙂
I grew up by the Uffington White horse, and always felt very proud of it. Now I live near another chalk horse in Sussex, but this one was made in the 1920s so it’s only really a foal in comparison! Thanks for the post 🙂
I grew up by the Uffington White horse, and always felt very proud of it. Now I live near another chalk horse in Sussex, but this one was made in the 1920s so it’s only really a foal in comparison! Thanks for the post 🙂
I grew up by the Uffington White horse, and always felt very proud of it. Now I live near another chalk horse in Sussex, but this one was made in the 1920s so it’s only really a foal in comparison! Thanks for the post 🙂
I love how the tradition continues.
Who knows … maybe your new horse will be around 3000 years from now.
I love how the tradition continues.
Who knows … maybe your new horse will be around 3000 years from now.
I love how the tradition continues.
Who knows … maybe your new horse will be around 3000 years from now.
I love how the tradition continues.
Who knows … maybe your new horse will be around 3000 years from now.
I love how the tradition continues.
Who knows … maybe your new horse will be around 3000 years from now.
I love your story of the scouring and it brought back the memories of visits to Uffington White Horse Hill, a real blow in the fresh air, with skylarks singing as you walk up from the carpark.
It made me look in a very old photo album and sure enough, we stood in the Eye, almost upright in spite of the gale.
Perhaps the horse has endured because of legends about the place – associations with Arthur are often a reason for leaving a site alone. And The Ridgeway is close by. Nicola can enjoy that wonderful scenery all the time.
I love your story of the scouring and it brought back the memories of visits to Uffington White Horse Hill, a real blow in the fresh air, with skylarks singing as you walk up from the carpark.
It made me look in a very old photo album and sure enough, we stood in the Eye, almost upright in spite of the gale.
Perhaps the horse has endured because of legends about the place – associations with Arthur are often a reason for leaving a site alone. And The Ridgeway is close by. Nicola can enjoy that wonderful scenery all the time.
I love your story of the scouring and it brought back the memories of visits to Uffington White Horse Hill, a real blow in the fresh air, with skylarks singing as you walk up from the carpark.
It made me look in a very old photo album and sure enough, we stood in the Eye, almost upright in spite of the gale.
Perhaps the horse has endured because of legends about the place – associations with Arthur are often a reason for leaving a site alone. And The Ridgeway is close by. Nicola can enjoy that wonderful scenery all the time.
I love your story of the scouring and it brought back the memories of visits to Uffington White Horse Hill, a real blow in the fresh air, with skylarks singing as you walk up from the carpark.
It made me look in a very old photo album and sure enough, we stood in the Eye, almost upright in spite of the gale.
Perhaps the horse has endured because of legends about the place – associations with Arthur are often a reason for leaving a site alone. And The Ridgeway is close by. Nicola can enjoy that wonderful scenery all the time.
I love your story of the scouring and it brought back the memories of visits to Uffington White Horse Hill, a real blow in the fresh air, with skylarks singing as you walk up from the carpark.
It made me look in a very old photo album and sure enough, we stood in the Eye, almost upright in spite of the gale.
Perhaps the horse has endured because of legends about the place – associations with Arthur are often a reason for leaving a site alone. And The Ridgeway is close by. Nicola can enjoy that wonderful scenery all the time.
I love it that it’s near the Ridgeway. I can imagine ancient tourist turning off to spend the night near the Great White Horse.
I love it that it’s near the Ridgeway. I can imagine ancient tourist turning off to spend the night near the Great White Horse.
I love it that it’s near the Ridgeway. I can imagine ancient tourist turning off to spend the night near the Great White Horse.
I love it that it’s near the Ridgeway. I can imagine ancient tourist turning off to spend the night near the Great White Horse.
I love it that it’s near the Ridgeway. I can imagine ancient tourist turning off to spend the night near the Great White Horse.
Sculptor Deborah Butterfield’s red horse Orion is my favorite. Made from 55gal drums he’s about 17hands and you can almost hear him breathing. Thankfully the museum is used to horse-mad & art-mad folks.
Lovely vignette, thank you fornthe journey in her slippers. Now to see if my sister wants to visit this horse….
Sculptor Deborah Butterfield’s red horse Orion is my favorite. Made from 55gal drums he’s about 17hands and you can almost hear him breathing. Thankfully the museum is used to horse-mad & art-mad folks.
Lovely vignette, thank you fornthe journey in her slippers. Now to see if my sister wants to visit this horse….
Sculptor Deborah Butterfield’s red horse Orion is my favorite. Made from 55gal drums he’s about 17hands and you can almost hear him breathing. Thankfully the museum is used to horse-mad & art-mad folks.
Lovely vignette, thank you fornthe journey in her slippers. Now to see if my sister wants to visit this horse….
Sculptor Deborah Butterfield’s red horse Orion is my favorite. Made from 55gal drums he’s about 17hands and you can almost hear him breathing. Thankfully the museum is used to horse-mad & art-mad folks.
Lovely vignette, thank you fornthe journey in her slippers. Now to see if my sister wants to visit this horse….
Sculptor Deborah Butterfield’s red horse Orion is my favorite. Made from 55gal drums he’s about 17hands and you can almost hear him breathing. Thankfully the museum is used to horse-mad & art-mad folks.
Lovely vignette, thank you fornthe journey in her slippers. Now to see if my sister wants to visit this horse….
I’ve never heard of this before, but it’s beautiful, and it reminds me a bit of the Matisse cutouts, it has the same sense of movement. And take a look at this Joan Miró horse: http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/490209
I’ve never heard of this before, but it’s beautiful, and it reminds me a bit of the Matisse cutouts, it has the same sense of movement. And take a look at this Joan Miró horse: http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/490209
I’ve never heard of this before, but it’s beautiful, and it reminds me a bit of the Matisse cutouts, it has the same sense of movement. And take a look at this Joan Miró horse: http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/490209
I’ve never heard of this before, but it’s beautiful, and it reminds me a bit of the Matisse cutouts, it has the same sense of movement. And take a look at this Joan Miró horse: http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/490209
I’ve never heard of this before, but it’s beautiful, and it reminds me a bit of the Matisse cutouts, it has the same sense of movement. And take a look at this Joan Miró horse: http://www.metmuseum.org/collection/the-collection-online/search/490209
Yes. Yes. Go visit.
And here’s a view of that artwork.
http://traveltoeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/wpid-Photo-Oct-3-2013-133-PM.jpg
Yes. Yes. Go visit.
And here’s a view of that artwork.
http://traveltoeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/wpid-Photo-Oct-3-2013-133-PM.jpg
Yes. Yes. Go visit.
And here’s a view of that artwork.
http://traveltoeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/wpid-Photo-Oct-3-2013-133-PM.jpg
Yes. Yes. Go visit.
And here’s a view of that artwork.
http://traveltoeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/wpid-Photo-Oct-3-2013-133-PM.jpg
Yes. Yes. Go visit.
And here’s a view of that artwork.
http://traveltoeat.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/wpid-Photo-Oct-3-2013-133-PM.jpg
Wonderful post, Joanne! I’ve been fascinated with the chalk horses since I first heard about them when I was in high school. We were lucky enough to see a couple of the Wiltshire horses when we visited England several years ago, but not lucky enough to do more than look at them as we drove past. No wandering about them for us.
As for my favorite horse image, it is not even close to what you are looking for. There are 2 of them. The first Christmas after we got our daughter her horse, we took Christmas pictures with the horse and my son and daughter. This year for my Christmas present they took a few more pictures trying to recreate it for me 7 years later. 🙂
Wonderful post, Joanne! I’ve been fascinated with the chalk horses since I first heard about them when I was in high school. We were lucky enough to see a couple of the Wiltshire horses when we visited England several years ago, but not lucky enough to do more than look at them as we drove past. No wandering about them for us.
As for my favorite horse image, it is not even close to what you are looking for. There are 2 of them. The first Christmas after we got our daughter her horse, we took Christmas pictures with the horse and my son and daughter. This year for my Christmas present they took a few more pictures trying to recreate it for me 7 years later. 🙂
Wonderful post, Joanne! I’ve been fascinated with the chalk horses since I first heard about them when I was in high school. We were lucky enough to see a couple of the Wiltshire horses when we visited England several years ago, but not lucky enough to do more than look at them as we drove past. No wandering about them for us.
As for my favorite horse image, it is not even close to what you are looking for. There are 2 of them. The first Christmas after we got our daughter her horse, we took Christmas pictures with the horse and my son and daughter. This year for my Christmas present they took a few more pictures trying to recreate it for me 7 years later. 🙂
Wonderful post, Joanne! I’ve been fascinated with the chalk horses since I first heard about them when I was in high school. We were lucky enough to see a couple of the Wiltshire horses when we visited England several years ago, but not lucky enough to do more than look at them as we drove past. No wandering about them for us.
As for my favorite horse image, it is not even close to what you are looking for. There are 2 of them. The first Christmas after we got our daughter her horse, we took Christmas pictures with the horse and my son and daughter. This year for my Christmas present they took a few more pictures trying to recreate it for me 7 years later. 🙂
Wonderful post, Joanne! I’ve been fascinated with the chalk horses since I first heard about them when I was in high school. We were lucky enough to see a couple of the Wiltshire horses when we visited England several years ago, but not lucky enough to do more than look at them as we drove past. No wandering about them for us.
As for my favorite horse image, it is not even close to what you are looking for. There are 2 of them. The first Christmas after we got our daughter her horse, we took Christmas pictures with the horse and my son and daughter. This year for my Christmas present they took a few more pictures trying to recreate it for me 7 years later. 🙂
It does look like Matisse, doesn’t it? I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see that image among his works.
The Miro you link to is so poignant.
It does look like Matisse, doesn’t it? I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see that image among his works.
The Miro you link to is so poignant.
It does look like Matisse, doesn’t it? I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see that image among his works.
The Miro you link to is so poignant.
It does look like Matisse, doesn’t it? I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see that image among his works.
The Miro you link to is so poignant.
It does look like Matisse, doesn’t it? I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see that image among his works.
The Miro you link to is so poignant.
That’s lovely.
I did an interview with Joan Wolf last month that included pictures of her favorite horse. I was so glad to see it.
That’s lovely.
I did an interview with Joan Wolf last month that included pictures of her favorite horse. I was so glad to see it.
That’s lovely.
I did an interview with Joan Wolf last month that included pictures of her favorite horse. I was so glad to see it.
That’s lovely.
I did an interview with Joan Wolf last month that included pictures of her favorite horse. I was so glad to see it.
That’s lovely.
I did an interview with Joan Wolf last month that included pictures of her favorite horse. I was so glad to see it.
In Chicago’s Grant Park there is a sculpture called “The Bowman and The Spearman” that I have admired many times when walking through there. The Native American and horse symbolize the struggle to settle the USA. The figures are powerful, lean, and muscular. That would be one of my favorite representations of a horse.
In Chicago’s Grant Park there is a sculpture called “The Bowman and The Spearman” that I have admired many times when walking through there. The Native American and horse symbolize the struggle to settle the USA. The figures are powerful, lean, and muscular. That would be one of my favorite representations of a horse.
In Chicago’s Grant Park there is a sculpture called “The Bowman and The Spearman” that I have admired many times when walking through there. The Native American and horse symbolize the struggle to settle the USA. The figures are powerful, lean, and muscular. That would be one of my favorite representations of a horse.
In Chicago’s Grant Park there is a sculpture called “The Bowman and The Spearman” that I have admired many times when walking through there. The Native American and horse symbolize the struggle to settle the USA. The figures are powerful, lean, and muscular. That would be one of my favorite representations of a horse.
In Chicago’s Grant Park there is a sculpture called “The Bowman and The Spearman” that I have admired many times when walking through there. The Native American and horse symbolize the struggle to settle the USA. The figures are powerful, lean, and muscular. That would be one of my favorite representations of a horse.
The wiki that shows those sculptures is
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bowman_and_The_Spearman
They really are moving.
The wiki that shows those sculptures is
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bowman_and_The_Spearman
They really are moving.
The wiki that shows those sculptures is
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bowman_and_The_Spearman
They really are moving.
The wiki that shows those sculptures is
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bowman_and_The_Spearman
They really are moving.
The wiki that shows those sculptures is
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Bowman_and_The_Spearman
They really are moving.
I had the pleasure of living in the village of Uffington just after I got married in a 14th century thatched cottage full of character and a few ghosts. As someone who did archaeology as part of my degree that whole area holds an immense fascination for me. On our every day drive to work we could see the white horse, ancient barrows and field terracing, sites to the ancient gods, roman paths, medieval farms and hedgerows and a lovely Regency house tucked away to the side of the road. Truly a special place.
I had the pleasure of living in the village of Uffington just after I got married in a 14th century thatched cottage full of character and a few ghosts. As someone who did archaeology as part of my degree that whole area holds an immense fascination for me. On our every day drive to work we could see the white horse, ancient barrows and field terracing, sites to the ancient gods, roman paths, medieval farms and hedgerows and a lovely Regency house tucked away to the side of the road. Truly a special place.
I had the pleasure of living in the village of Uffington just after I got married in a 14th century thatched cottage full of character and a few ghosts. As someone who did archaeology as part of my degree that whole area holds an immense fascination for me. On our every day drive to work we could see the white horse, ancient barrows and field terracing, sites to the ancient gods, roman paths, medieval farms and hedgerows and a lovely Regency house tucked away to the side of the road. Truly a special place.
I had the pleasure of living in the village of Uffington just after I got married in a 14th century thatched cottage full of character and a few ghosts. As someone who did archaeology as part of my degree that whole area holds an immense fascination for me. On our every day drive to work we could see the white horse, ancient barrows and field terracing, sites to the ancient gods, roman paths, medieval farms and hedgerows and a lovely Regency house tucked away to the side of the road. Truly a special place.
I had the pleasure of living in the village of Uffington just after I got married in a 14th century thatched cottage full of character and a few ghosts. As someone who did archaeology as part of my degree that whole area holds an immense fascination for me. On our every day drive to work we could see the white horse, ancient barrows and field terracing, sites to the ancient gods, roman paths, medieval farms and hedgerows and a lovely Regency house tucked away to the side of the road. Truly a special place.
I live near Denver, Colorado, and the airport is fairly new. The local professional (American) football team is called the Broncos. There is a statue of a rearing horse at the airport, apparently it is 32 feet high (I just looked it up). It has red eyes and looks rather demonic. What tickles me every time I see it is that this kind of crazy sculpture is allowed as public art. I am amazed (and pleased) that it hasn’t been taken down by prim and smug citizens to protect children and other innocents from being drawn to the dark side. I guess the Bronco fans are winning this one, at least so far (10 years?) I don’t find it beautiful; real horses are so gorgeous, but I smile when I think about it.
I live near Denver, Colorado, and the airport is fairly new. The local professional (American) football team is called the Broncos. There is a statue of a rearing horse at the airport, apparently it is 32 feet high (I just looked it up). It has red eyes and looks rather demonic. What tickles me every time I see it is that this kind of crazy sculpture is allowed as public art. I am amazed (and pleased) that it hasn’t been taken down by prim and smug citizens to protect children and other innocents from being drawn to the dark side. I guess the Bronco fans are winning this one, at least so far (10 years?) I don’t find it beautiful; real horses are so gorgeous, but I smile when I think about it.
I live near Denver, Colorado, and the airport is fairly new. The local professional (American) football team is called the Broncos. There is a statue of a rearing horse at the airport, apparently it is 32 feet high (I just looked it up). It has red eyes and looks rather demonic. What tickles me every time I see it is that this kind of crazy sculpture is allowed as public art. I am amazed (and pleased) that it hasn’t been taken down by prim and smug citizens to protect children and other innocents from being drawn to the dark side. I guess the Bronco fans are winning this one, at least so far (10 years?) I don’t find it beautiful; real horses are so gorgeous, but I smile when I think about it.
I live near Denver, Colorado, and the airport is fairly new. The local professional (American) football team is called the Broncos. There is a statue of a rearing horse at the airport, apparently it is 32 feet high (I just looked it up). It has red eyes and looks rather demonic. What tickles me every time I see it is that this kind of crazy sculpture is allowed as public art. I am amazed (and pleased) that it hasn’t been taken down by prim and smug citizens to protect children and other innocents from being drawn to the dark side. I guess the Bronco fans are winning this one, at least so far (10 years?) I don’t find it beautiful; real horses are so gorgeous, but I smile when I think about it.
I live near Denver, Colorado, and the airport is fairly new. The local professional (American) football team is called the Broncos. There is a statue of a rearing horse at the airport, apparently it is 32 feet high (I just looked it up). It has red eyes and looks rather demonic. What tickles me every time I see it is that this kind of crazy sculpture is allowed as public art. I am amazed (and pleased) that it hasn’t been taken down by prim and smug citizens to protect children and other innocents from being drawn to the dark side. I guess the Bronco fans are winning this one, at least so far (10 years?) I don’t find it beautiful; real horses are so gorgeous, but I smile when I think about it.
And here it is.
http://media1.s-nbcnews.com/j/streams/2013/February/130225/1C6185067-sunny-horse-3-small.blocks_desktop_medium.jpg
Most impressive and a little amusing.
And here it is.
http://media1.s-nbcnews.com/j/streams/2013/February/130225/1C6185067-sunny-horse-3-small.blocks_desktop_medium.jpg
Most impressive and a little amusing.
And here it is.
http://media1.s-nbcnews.com/j/streams/2013/February/130225/1C6185067-sunny-horse-3-small.blocks_desktop_medium.jpg
Most impressive and a little amusing.
And here it is.
http://media1.s-nbcnews.com/j/streams/2013/February/130225/1C6185067-sunny-horse-3-small.blocks_desktop_medium.jpg
Most impressive and a little amusing.
And here it is.
http://media1.s-nbcnews.com/j/streams/2013/February/130225/1C6185067-sunny-horse-3-small.blocks_desktop_medium.jpg
Most impressive and a little amusing.
As per usual, I’m late to the discussion, but the wonderful Rosemary Sutcliffe wrote a book about the horse’s origin called “Sun Horse, Moon Horse”. It’s a lovely book, even if it called for numerous tissues at the end.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Horse,_Moon_Horse
As per usual, I’m late to the discussion, but the wonderful Rosemary Sutcliffe wrote a book about the horse’s origin called “Sun Horse, Moon Horse”. It’s a lovely book, even if it called for numerous tissues at the end.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Horse,_Moon_Horse
As per usual, I’m late to the discussion, but the wonderful Rosemary Sutcliffe wrote a book about the horse’s origin called “Sun Horse, Moon Horse”. It’s a lovely book, even if it called for numerous tissues at the end.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Horse,_Moon_Horse
As per usual, I’m late to the discussion, but the wonderful Rosemary Sutcliffe wrote a book about the horse’s origin called “Sun Horse, Moon Horse”. It’s a lovely book, even if it called for numerous tissues at the end.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Horse,_Moon_Horse
As per usual, I’m late to the discussion, but the wonderful Rosemary Sutcliffe wrote a book about the horse’s origin called “Sun Horse, Moon Horse”. It’s a lovely book, even if it called for numerous tissues at the end.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sun_Horse,_Moon_Horse
I must have read Sun Horse, Moon Horse when I was young, because I read all the Sutcliffe I could get my hands on. Maybe I will find it in the library even so many years later.
I must have read Sun Horse, Moon Horse when I was young, because I read all the Sutcliffe I could get my hands on. Maybe I will find it in the library even so many years later.
I must have read Sun Horse, Moon Horse when I was young, because I read all the Sutcliffe I could get my hands on. Maybe I will find it in the library even so many years later.
I must have read Sun Horse, Moon Horse when I was young, because I read all the Sutcliffe I could get my hands on. Maybe I will find it in the library even so many years later.
I must have read Sun Horse, Moon Horse when I was young, because I read all the Sutcliffe I could get my hands on. Maybe I will find it in the library even so many years later.
I would love to live in Uffington. Sounds heaven for a writer of Historicals.
I would love to live in Uffington. Sounds heaven for a writer of Historicals.
I would love to live in Uffington. Sounds heaven for a writer of Historicals.
I would love to live in Uffington. Sounds heaven for a writer of Historicals.
I would love to live in Uffington. Sounds heaven for a writer of Historicals.
Yes. So much like the Miro horse.
And both of them so beautiful.
Yes. So much like the Miro horse.
And both of them so beautiful.
Yes. So much like the Miro horse.
And both of them so beautiful.
Yes. So much like the Miro horse.
And both of them so beautiful.
Yes. So much like the Miro horse.
And both of them so beautiful.