The Meaning of Horses in Older Women Equestrians' Lives

• In Event: Animals from a Sociological Perspective Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (90 minute): Table 1: Interspecies Communities

Abstract

This study explores with narrative and visual sociology techniques the meaning of horses in the lives of aging, older women equestrians. The sample includes 32 women aged 47 to 87 who are active riders and participants in horseback riding communities. The interviews occurred in Summer and Fall 2025. The study will focus on the stories these women tell about the significant horses in their lives and how they reflexively interpret their identities and core values based on their feelings of being part of horse-human relationships. This project contributes to both symbolic interactionist studies of horse-human relations and women’s meaning-making as well as multispecies ethnographies.

Author

• Laura Ann Sanchez, Bowling Green State University