what's all this talk about horses

what is it about horses?

i spent hours drawing horses when i was a girl - looks like i wasn't the only one

my dad had a book called horses which showed anatomical pictures and action sequences, showing you how to draw them.

it was my favourite book for a long time.

Budapest, Hungary: A traditional Hungarian horseman performs in the historic Heroes Square
Photo: Laszlo Balogh/Reuters (Guardian 24 hours in pictures)

there's a lovely story in the film, in my father's den, probably in the novel too, the day the tide went away (reproduced here)

the bits i love are:

One day, in a town at the edge of the world, the tide went out and never returned. The sea just left without warning ...

As the days went on, more and more people went looking ... And then a shape appeared on the horizon. Through a blaze of heat, the people saw what looked like tumbling water rolling towards them ... But as it grew closer, the shape began to alter and mutate. What looked like tumbling water was in fact wild horses. Everywhere they turned, they saw horses drawing closer and closer.
i didn't really know patti smith's horses until i saw this film,
there's a special rush in horses horses horses horses

a friend mentioned a cat power song to me once, it has the lyrics,
horses galloping
bring him to me
where is my love ...
where is my love
where is my love
horses running free
carrying you and me
it's a lovely piece, soft quiet but with the untrammelled passion of horses, galloping

and of course, the mournful, passionate longing of wild horses

i remember hearing an interview with director sergei bodrov. he was discussing the battle scenes in his film mongol, and marshalling hundreds of horses, and not quite having control of the scenes because the mongolian actors & extras would continue riding and fighting long after it was necessary

i've never ridden a horse. some day, i'd like to give it a try

addendum: bought a lovely horse painting by an artist and horse-breeder, karen tait.

further post script

just a few days after melbourne cup day 2010, it's appropriate to add more horses!horses!

these come with instructions on how to make more

and an $18 ebay dress won the oaks day fashion stakes
not just any dress though,