The Literary Horse Exhibit

LEGENDARY HORSES TOUR PUBLIC LIBRARIES

Nation's Libraries Host a Parade of Yesterday's and Today's

Heroic Equines and Equestrians

Black Beauty lives at the end of Main Street and Pegasus takes wing from the pasture around the corner in an equestrian exhibit touring public and school libraries nationwide. The exhibit, Vanessa Wright's The Literary Horse: When Legends Come to Life, pairs up to 100 photos of today's horses and riders with family-friendly, secular, and cited public domain quotations from the world's great books.

"From Achilles with his splendid chargers to Don Quixote and Rocinante, the horses and heroes of myth and literature are alive and thriving in our neighborhoods," said Wright.

More than 250,000 people have visited The Literary Horse since its debut in May 2008. The exhibit has toured rural through metropolitan public and school libraries, and among its shows, it has complemented libraries' celebrations of national and international events, including Children's Book Week, the Kentucky Derby, and the World Equestrian Games.

* CTNow! profiles Plainville Public Library exhibit 
* UChicago magazine spotlights Literary Horse tour

Showcasing first-time riders through Special Olympic and Olympic champions, 26 horse breeds, and 29 equestrian disciplines - ranging from carriage driving and show jumping to jousting and vaulting (gymnastics on horseback) - The Literary Horse provides visitors with a real-life tour of world classics, such as the Iliad, Richard III, and Romance of the Three Kingdoms, as well as beloved children's tales, such as Black Beauty, The Arabian Nights, Cinderella, and King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table.

* Research: Reading horse books can make kids, adults smarter 
* Study: Sharing books with animals can help kids read more fluently

The exhibit, though, extends beyond its images. Because it is touring public and school libraries, after exploring the scenes of heroic horses and horse-people, visitors can trot over to the shelves and jump into the books that follow their adventures. And because each exhibit features local equine and equestrian programs and events, visitors can contact the programs’ organizers and become riders, supporters, or volunteers.

* Pony in the Library! Becky’s visit to the Springfield Library exhibit 
* Stepping Up for Kids: Real horses & riders visit Texas Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald House during the Pin Oak Charity Horse Show exhibit

“I hoped these images would help people see themselves in the great books and inspire them to live their own legends,” said Wright. “Heroes aren’t just people who lived long ago - they are our neighbors, our friends, our family members, and ourselves. The beauty, heart, and spirit we admire in legendary horses exist in our pasture pets, service horses, and competition partners. And together, we face challenges as thrilling and as extraordinary as the quests of old. After all, every great story, at its heart, reflects the greatness that is already within us.”

* Prizes and honors for Literary Horse photos 
* Literary Horse photos in today’s great books

The Literary Horse: When Legends Come to Life is now on display at the Norco Horse Library in Norco, California. It has been featured in media outlets including HorseChannel.com, Discover Horses, Horses in Art, Horse & Rider, EQUUS, The Blood-Horse, and Riding Instructor and was nominated for Reader’s Digest Best of America. For more information, activities, and a booklist - or to schedule an exhibit - visit www.TheLiteraryHorse.com or email Vanessa today!