ineedhorses

this is a blog consisting of pictures of horses

[ineedhorses]

[horsefigureoftheday]

Horse figure of the day: Peter Stone "Petalode"

[ineedhorses]

omg…

[ask-ulysses-s-grant]

Hello sir. Out of all the horses you've had, I doubt there were any you felt particularly badly toward, but which would you say gave you the most trouble? I'd also like to know of any closest to your heart.

- 🐎 anon

Dear Horse Anonymous,

Thank you for writing to me, it means a lot to hear kind words from an interested party, whomever and wherever you may be, particularly on a topic so close to my heart.

You are correct in assessing that I could never feel badly towards a horse. They were merely animals, and their behaviors were responses to stimuli and to past experiences. I could never fault them or take their actions personally, as they were wholly sincere and never pointed in all that they did, which is part of why I get on with horses more easily than people.

As for trouble, I have certainly had trouble. Despite former rebel General Longstreet (a close friend before and since the late War of the Rebellion) asserting that I could ride anything, I have had experience with some particularly difficult horses (though no fault of the horses, merely fault of their previous masters).

During the aforementioned War, my first horse during said conflict was named "Jack". He was simply not suited for combat use, for which I do not blame him, as combat is not for what he was bred.

I also had a pony, captured from the South, called "Jeff Davis". He never gave me any trouble, but he tended to bite and kick stablehands, and anyone else who bothered him. He was nothing but sweet to me.

I have also had some bad experiences with horses that were not mine. I do not blame the horses, for they were not properly broken, but I do blame their masters for given me unbroken horses without prior warning simply due to my repute as a horseman, I am only human, and there is only so much I can do in such a short frame of time.

In terms of those I was most close to, I would have to say "Cincinnati" most of all, as well as "Egypt", and "Jeff Davis". "Cincinnati" was a lovely, sweet, gentle horse while also being well tempered to battle. We suited one another like two halves of one creature. The only others I trusted to ride him were Admiral Ammen and President Lincoln.

[ineedhorses]

take a seat!

found on pintrest

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The Hellp in Houston Texas, October 2025.

[ineedhorses]

This image is by Noah Dillion, one-half of the band The Hellp. The song "Ssx" inspired this project. In October 2025, I saw them live, and I haven't gone a single day without thinking of that performance. The line "I need horses like you need drugs" inspired my username as well. Horses have lived hand in hand with humans for centuries, and they deserve more recognition. Horses need humans to basically stay alive, and humans have used horses in war, on farms, and for companionship. Some would argue that horses are like drugs; once you get a taste, you can't get enough.

[ineedhorses]

This is a drawing of a Pinto Pony and a Water Serpent. It was done with tempera and graphite. The artist, Julian Martinez, is a Native American artist. While I don't know much about the significance of this piece, the simplicity and bright colors are striking. I wonder why the pony and water serpent are fighting. Maybe the pony stepped on the serpent's tail. Be careful when walking through a creek; you don't know what you might find.

Julian Martinez. Pinto Pony and Water Serpent. n.d., Ackland Art Museum, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Burton Emmett Collection. JSTOR, https://jstor.org/stable/community.15599616. Graphite and tempera. Accessed 3 May 2026.

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This is a photograph of two girls riding their ponies in a suburban neighborhood in California. They ride casually in school uniforms as if they're just playing after school. These girls ride so casually that it leads me to believe that these ponies live in their backyards. This might be every girl's dream: to have her pony living in her backyard and be able to ride it after school with her friends.

Reginald Marsh (1898-1954). [Girls Riding Ponies.]. ca. 1949, Museum of the City of New York. JSTOR, https://jstor.org/stable/community.12071781. Accessed 3 May 2026.

[ineedhorses]

This is a photograph of a child riding a horse in Japan. I think it's so interesting to see the different equipment used for horses around the world. I'm used to seeing the very American and European horse tack. This horse and rider seem to have almost matching outfits, with the boy's blue clothes matching the horse's fabric. Traditional Japanese saddles are often made out of wood and resemble Western saddles used in America. What I find most interesting is the designs on these saddles. In the fourth century AD, the Japanese started using horses in wars, so the designs on these saddles often reflect this. Often, the strength and power of soldiers. This is just the tip of the iceberg of Japanese tack; it has a rich history. Just like in Europe and America, the history of horses and their riders is endless.

Beato, Felice, 1832-1909. Japan: A Child on a Pony. Coloured Photograph by Felice Beato, ca. 1868. 1868, Wellcome Collection. JSTOR, https://jstor.org/stable/community.36640854. 1 photograph (album page 22) : photoprint, coloured albumen. Accessed 3 May 2026.

[ineedhorses]

This painting caught my eye. The bright red against the stark black of the horse is beautiful. This painting also has so much depth, the communist symbol on the flag, and the American symbolism of a cowboy. The rider falls back away from the flag; perhaps this is a critique of the very American fear of communism. This painting was made in 1986 by a British artist. This definitely adds to the criticism of the Red Scare that was so prevalent in the 80s.

Boshier, Derek, 1937-. Red Cowboy. 1986. JSTOR, https://jstor.org/stable/community.13697356. Oil on canvas. Accessed 3 May 2026.

[ineedhorses]

This is a photograph by Richard Prince of a cowboy wrangling his horse. I love photos of cowboys because the cowboy-horse relationship is so beautiful. They're a working team, and the fact that humans have this relationship with animals is beautiful. Now, this cowboy seems to be struggling with his horse. Hopefully, they worked it out.

Prince, Richard, 1949-. Untitled (Cowboy). 1999, Visual Arts Legacy Collection. Artstor. JSTOR, https://jstor.org/stable/community.18135182. Ektacolor photograph. Accessed 3 May 2026.

[ineedhorses]

This is a print from the Illustrated Bartsch, a collection of old European master's prints. Essentially, a complete history book of art spanning over 400 years. This specific illustration was done by Hans Baldung. This piece stood out to me because of the intricate details. The careful hatching often seen in prints like these always leaves me in awe of the artists' talent.

Hans Baldung Grien, 1484/85-1545. Group of Seven Wild Horses. 1534, New York. The Illustrated Bartsch. Artstor. JSTOR, https://jstor.org/stable/community.12334107. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.

[ineedhorses]

This is an image, presumably from an anatomy book, marking the bones of a horse. This image caught my eye because I think the anatomy of horses is so interesting. Their hooves are basically fingernails, and they can run 30 mph on them. Also, their legs are mainly made of bone; they have very little muscle in their lower legs, and all the power is stored in their shoulders and flanks. I find it inspiring how fragile horses are, yet how powerful they are. They can kill a predator with a kick, but they will die if they lie down for too long.

Skeleton of a Horse, 1618. Wellcome Collection. JSTOR, https://jstor.org/stable/community.24726023. Accessed 26 Mar. 2026.

[ineedhorses]

This image is from the first example of chronophotography, which led to the development of movies. This could be considered the first movie in a way. This is also how people began to understand the strides of a horse at a full gallop. Before this, horses moved too fast, and we never knew if all four hooves ever left the ground. If you look at paintings of horses running, you can tell the artists didn't really know what they were meant to do. I love seeing all the awkward horses in older paintings.

Muybridge, Eadweard, 1830-1904. Galloping Horse (Sallie Gardner Running). 1878. George Eastman House., JSTOR, https://jstor.org/stable/community.14633046. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.

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Boy sitting on a horse smoking a cigarette at the Smithfield horse market in Dublin.

This photo is from a series documenting the horse market in Dublin. They drew me in because of the juxtaposition of the horse in an urban environment. I really like this one because of the boy. You can tell he feels truly at home on top of his pony.

Piotr Malecki. A Boy Sits on a Horse Smoking a Cigarette at Smithfield Horse Market in Central Dublin. This Traditional Market Has Now Became a Place for People from the Poor Neighbourhoods Who Cannot Afford to Look after Their Horses Anymore to Trade Them, Sometimes for as Little as 80 Euros. The Horses Are Often Mistreated. 2011. JSTOR, https://jstor.org/stable/community.12122938. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.

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2026 is the year of the horse. This picture was taken by me and the toy horse is from my childhood. When I was a kid I used to leave this horse in the bird fountain in hopes that little birdies would perch on it like they were going on a ride. It's now sun bleached from giving so many birdies rides. I like putting it on display because it reminds me of my childhood. Nostalgia can be very comforting in a place like college.