John Clark’s groundbreaking work in medieval equestrian history has shaped and inspired generations of scholars, transforming our understanding of horses in the past. A pioneer of archaeological and historical research on the medieval horse, Clark’s influential 1995 work, The Medieval Horse and its Equipment, set the stage for much of the academic exploration that followed. In this celebratory volume, international scholars come together to honor his legacy with new perspectives on the history, culture, and significance of horses across the medieval world.
Spanning from Roman Britain to the Elizabethan court, this interdisciplinary collection covers a diverse range of topics including equestrian equipment, horse training, folklore, and the symbolic role of horses in literature. Featuring in-depth studies on archaeological finds and providing innovative approaches to equestrian practices and the gendered dynamics of horse-riding, the essays in this book reflect the profound influence of John Clark’s work.
This Festschrift provides a fitting tribute to a scholar whose pioneering research continues to inspire and shape the field of equestrian history. Each chapter not only reflects John Clark’s enduring influence but also showcases the breadth of scholarly engagement with the historical horse, from its practical use to its deeper cultural and symbolic meanings.
ANASTASIJA ROPA holds a doctoral degree from Bangor University (North Wales) and is currently a lecturer at the Latvian Academy of Sport Education, Riga Stradinsh University. Her most recent research explores medieval equestrianism in English and French literary sources.
EMMA HERBERT-DAVIES holds a PhD from the University of Leeds, where her research focused on the role and significance of warhorses during the reigns of Edward I and Edward II. A lifelong equestrian enthusiast, Herbert-Davies has owned and competed horses for many years, combining academic expertise with hands-on experience in the equestrian world.
Table des matières :
Introduction: Festschrift to John Clark – Emma Herbert-Davies, Anastasija Ropa
“Just a Bit too Late.” A High-Medieval Horse Bit from the Gleichberg in Thuringia – Frederik-Sebastian Kirch, Victoria Haack
A Large Amount of Mounts. New Insights into Medieval Equestrian Copper-Alloy Decoration – Robert Webley, Laura Burnett
A Late Gothic Spur from the Castle in Szprotawa, Poland – Arkadiusz Michalak
Medieval Horse Training in England: Evidence from Thirteenth and Fourteenth Century Royal Accounts – Emma Herbert-Davies
Gendering Medieval Equestrian Equipment: Mission (Im)Possible? – Anastasija Ropa
A-Hunting We Will Go. The Transition from the Sideways Saddle to the Side-Saddle at the Turn of the Sixteenth Century and Its Significance for Female Equitation – Bettina Keil-Steentjes
Cavalry Horses and Chariot Racers: Osteobiographies of Two Horses from Roman Britain in Honour of John Clark – Pamela J. Cross
Fabricating an Ideal Beast: The Physical Transformation of Individual Equids in the Context of Medieval French Horse-Training as Presented in the Vernacular Translations of Jordanus Rufus’s De Medicina Equorum (C. 1250) – Camille Vo Van Qui
Northern and Pistol Revisited: The Emergence of Galloway Nag Satire in Its Global Context – Miriam A Bibby
The Colt-Pixy: A British Horse Spirit? – Simon Young
Discovering the Historical Medieval Warhorse – Jürg Gassmann
List of Contributors
Informations pratiques :
The Horse in History. A Festschrift in Honour of John Clark, éd. Anastasija Ropa and Emma Herbert-Davies, Budapest, Trivent, 2025 ; 1 vol., 403 p. (Rewriting Equestrian History, 9). ISBN : 978-615-6696-55-7. Prix : € 65,00.
Source : Trivent
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