The Writing Horse: Recognition

The Writing Horse: Recognition

Since our last blog, "The Writing Horse Unleashed", we have been found by several interested parties. Equine Tourism features us now and The Riding Company is interested in offering our creative writing courses for horse lovers in southern Andalucia.



We are advertising in literary and horsey websites and magazines and the response has been encouraging. In particular, we are most grateful for the positive reactions by many people from within the industry who wish us well and want to help get this project off the ground.


Most of all, we want to have fun creating and teaching our courses and we want our guests to have fun taking our courses. So get in touch and opt for an unusual activity holiday in the sun!


Antonia

The Writing Horse: Writing and Riding in the Sun

The Writing Horse: Recognition

Since our last blog, "The Writing Horse Unleashed", we have been found by several interested parties. Equine Tourism features us now and The Riding Company is interested in offering our creative writing courses for horse lovers in southern Andalucia.

We are advertising in literary and horsey websites and magazines and the response has been encouraging. In particular, we are most grateful for the positive reactions by many people from within the industry who wish us well and want to help get this project off the ground. 

Most of all, we want to have fun creating and teaching our courses and we want our guests to have fun taking our courses. So get in touch and opt for an unusual activity holiday in the sun!

Antonia

THE WRITING HORSE UNLEASHED, by Antonia Riley

Here he is at last: The Writing Horse!

After a number of years' gestation the Writing Horse would like to make your acquaintance. He was born in my mind when I bought an old farm house in Andalucia, now 11 years ago. Looking down from the promontory in front of the ruin I saw, as clear as day, a number of horses running happily about in the shrub land below.

There were no horses there, but when I met my new neighbour the next day he told me his daughter would arrive in a month or two, bringing with her a number of horses from her riding school in Madrid. She built the beautiful white stables, I built the arena to ride in. My vision had come true (see http://www.riding-andalucia.com/).

Then I met a Dutch woman, Irene,  who runs a riding establishment an hour away from us and we started to combine the two businesses (see http://www.centrohipico-almanzora.com/).

But apart from riding out and practicing dressage in the arenas, I felt there was more that could be done in the presence of the wonderful creatures that are horses. We offered riding for the physically and mentally handicapped, who derive great pleasure and freedom communicating with a horse. And for the little ones, we created pony camps, with teepees and wooden chalets to sleep in and camp fires at night. The kids, too, were enthralled by looking after and riding their designated horses.

Still, the idea of the Writing Horse escaped me, until I watched a few episodes of Monty Roberts' Equus: the Language of the Horse. It struck me that horse and language go together like scones and clotted cream. His language, our language, this combination (or lack thereof) makes us appreciate the horse and his mind.  And to be able to translate what he tells us and teaches us into creative writing must surely be an inspiration. What would a horse write if he could? What can we write when we have just been with our horse for some hours, riding, grooming, or just looking at him or blowing into his nostrils? (Yes, I know, a bit weird but they do seem to like it and respond with a little blow back!)

Enter the Writing Horse: Writing and Riding in the Sun. My brain child was well received by the people in the know at the British Horse Society and Equine Tourism and a number of equine travel companies. So far, it was an idea on paper with a logo, but I had to find a tutor who was equally enthused about the idea of horses, language and creative writing "on horse back".

So I found Emma, who was intrigued and excited by the whole thing. She wrote the syllabus and she will be teaching the workshops. Irene will be hosting the workshops in her wonderful riding place in Pulpi. The participants will sleep in wooden chalets and can walk amongst the stables if they cannot sleep at night. You and your horse standing quietly together under the stars is a magic experience.

And from now on, I will be writing up our experiences in this Blog. I hope you are interested and will follow our adventures. And of course, you can contact us and sign up for the second course, 27 August to 4 September 2011. Singles welcome (no supplement), cling-ons welcome (reduced rates if not riding). Midway through the week we will go on a sightseeing tour of the spellbinding countryside and ancient moorish cities around the area. Our website shows the particulars; do not hesitate to contact us with questions or suggestions.

Till the next blog,

Antonia