Horse Crazy: Girls and the Lives of Horses

Horse Crazy examines the relationship between girls and horses, exploring how it influences their identity and challenges sexist and mainstream ideas of girlhood. It also examines the treatment of horses as an example of the biopolitical use of nonhuman animals and the manipulation and exploitation of horse life.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 240 pages
Publication date: 30 May 2019
Publisher: University of Georgia Press

Horse Crazy delves into the profound connection between girls and horses, exploring the intricate interplay between this bond and its cultural manifestations. Jean OMalley Halley, affectionately known as a "horse girl," asserts that this relationship and its associated symbols shape the way young girls perceive their gender identity. Halley conducts an in-depth examination of how popular culture, particularly the "pony book" genre, employs horses to promote adherence to gender norms, while simultaneously challenging and subverting conventional notions of girlhood.

Through the lenses of Michel Foucault's notions of normalization and biopower, Horse Crazy sheds light on the ways in which girls' agency is both normalized and resisted. The film incorporates segments of Halley's personal experiences with horses as a young girl, as well as perspectives from other girls, to provide a rich tapestry of insights. These girls, referred to as "horsey girls," defy societal expectations of thinness, obsession with makeup and beauty, and fragility, ultimately unlocking the possibility of freedom.

Halley further extends her analysis by drawing upon Nicole Shukin's insights into animal capital theories. She explores the diverse treatment of horses themselves as an illustration of the biopolitical utilization of nonhuman animals and the manipulation and exploitation of horse life. By engaging with these topics, Halley prompts us to reconsider our common perceptions and emotions towards animals and the technologies of speciesism.

Horse Crazy serves as a thought-provoking exploration of the complex relationship between girls, horses, and the broader cultural context in which they exist. Through its insightful narrative and thoughtful analysis, the film offers a unique perspective on the ways in which girls negotiate their identities and seek empowerment in a world often shaped by societal norms and expectations.

Weight: 424g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 16 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780820355276