“My Lovely Horses” - James Horan explores the Irish Urban Horse Culture

This is one of the most thrilling Flickr-Founds i had for the last months …
Australian-based photographer James Horan watches his mother country through the lense of his camera, focussing the Irish urban horse culture. Check out his book “My Lovely Horses“.

“After almost five years in Australia I came home last June and found myself looking at Ireland with fresh eyes.
With so much change going on in the country and the “Celtic Tiger” economy in full effect I decided to document one aspect of my culture that has remained largely unchanged but will most likely fade into the history books.

From the tweed suited old gentlemen and gypsies at the traditional horse fairs of Spancil Hill and Ballinasloe to the Adidas clad youth from deprived and working class suburbs of Limerick and Dublin I have met fearless, competent riders all of whom are down to earth, kind hearted people who love their horses.
Most of the people I have photographed have no formal equestrian training and keep their animals in homemade stables or on green areas in housing estates.
The project centers on the monthly Smithfield horse market, its one of Dublin’s oldest traditions dating back to the 17th century.
Dealers come from around Ireland to buy and sell horses but the market is also popular with local teenagers keen to show off their ponies and their bare back riding skills on the cobbled stone square. In recent years the Smithfield area has been redeveloped for modern high density inner city living with apartments, cafes, hotels and a cinema all of which contrast greatly to the horse market. The new residents and local authorities are keen to close the market. There is also an attempt to control ownership of the horses (The Control of Horses Act) Ultimately leading to the extinction of this unique sub-culture.”

Photos used by courtesy of James Horan.