The horses in the exhibition are a selection of the most famous horse figures from mythology, history and popular culture.
© DPM
Verden – For thousands of years the horse has accompanied people in a wide variety of areas of life. As a loyal helper, it was closely connected to him for centuries and shaped the cultural and social development.
It is therefore not surprising that people throughout the centuries have been fascinated by these elegant and strong animals. Time and again, historical and fictional horses have been idolized and adored – their stories have been passed on over generations.
Exhibition from June 15 in the German Horse Museum
The special exhibition “Legendary! – Famous horses from mythology, history and popular culture “will present more than 30 famous horses in the German Horse Museum (DPM) in Verden from today, June 15, according to a press release from the DPM. Visitors are invited to meet horse personalities such as the black stallion Black Beauty, the favorite horse of Frederick the Great Condé, the comic hero Jolly Jumper, the speaking series star Mr. Ed, the millionaire stallion Totilas, the noble shadow fur from “Lord of the Rings” and many more to get to know.
Common history of man and horse for 5000 years
For 5,000 years, humans and horses have had a common history. The strength and speed of animals had a major impact on human history. Whoever used horses possessed mobility, military superiority and thus power. Their use in agriculture, trade and industry made development and prosperity possible. The fact that the fascination for horses remains unbroken in this day and age is shown by the diverse equine characters from popular culture who are a source of enthusiasm in books, comics, television series and movies.
Background to well-known four-legged friends
They have divine powers, are heroic war horses, patient helpers, loyal companions, tortured creatures, sporty super talents, self-confident personalities or humanized images of our world. As in a lexicon, the exhibition invites from A for Amadeus from Bibi & Tina to T for TempelhüterTo discover stories and backgrounds to well-known four-legged friends.
The exhibition shows mythological horses like the winged Pegasus, who transported lightning and thunder through the sky for Zeus, the father of the gods. Or the divine Centaur Chiron, a hybrid of horse and human. The warhorses of history also became famous, such as the tough little gray stallion Marengo, who covered countless kilometers on Europe’s roads under Napoleon Bonaparte and survived numerous wounds in battles. Condé, on the other hand, the favorite horse of Frederick the Great, had a luxurious life: the king fed him melons and figs and he was allowed to roam freely in the palace gardens.
Outstanding horses from the sport
Outstanding horses from the sport also became legends. This includes, for example, the Hungarian racing mare Kincsem, who, measured by the number of victories, is still considered the most successful racehorse of all time. And of course the miracle mare Halla, who made history with her rider Hans Günter Winkler at the Olympic Equestrian Games in Stockholm in 1956, or the black stallion Totilas, who recently caused a stir in the media when Paul Schockemöhle bought him for a double-digit million sum.
The horse is also present in literary history. Rosinante, Don Quixote’s horse, is one of the most famous steeds and has found its way into the visual arts in many ways. But the story of Black Beauty, who reports his suffering from a first-person perspective, also achieved fame and is considered an early example of animal welfare.
The fantasy epic “Lord of the Rings”, one of the most successful books of the 20th century, also has an outstanding horse figure to offer: Schattenfell, the noblest horse of Middle-earth, which offers its services to the magician Gandalf.
Horse figures from mythology, history and popular culture
The horses in the exhibition are just a selection of the well-known horse figures from mythology, history and popular culture. Their stories stimulate thought about how to deal with animals, as they also reveal, among other things, how great the tendency is to humanize them. They are also always a mirror of societies, because they show the importance people attach to their horses, what performance they demand from them and what dreams are projected onto them.
Until October 31st
The exhibition can be seen from June 15 to October 31, Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the German Horse Museum.
–
