The Lumley Horseman
Leeds Castle, Kent

The Lumley Horseman is the earliest know equestrian statue in the history of English sculpture. It was commissioned "in memorie of Kind Edward the 3rd" by Lord Lumley of Co. Durham in the 1500's.

Golden Miller
"A god on four legs."
Leeds Castle, Kent

Golden Miller chalked up a remarkable five successive victories in the Cheltenham Gold Cup. Better was to follow, when at just seven years of age he won both the Gold Cup and the Grand National in the same season. He's the only horse in history to do so.

Golden Miller was owned by Dorothey Paget, a rather eccentric woman who stabled some of her horses at Leeds, was the sister of Lady Baille of Leeds Caste. Two of their portraits now hang in the castle.

Olympic Rider
Great Hall, British Museum, London

This marble equestrian statue of a youth may be an Augustan prince named Marcellus. If you have more information about this one, please send it along.I would appreciate hearing from you.

 

Line of Kings
Wooden Horses in the Tower of London

After the restoration of Charles II in 1660, the public was allowed into the Tower to see the displays set up to celebrate the power of the re-instated English monarchy.

One attraction was the Line of Kings, consisting of mounted English monarchs on life size horses. The wooden horses were carved by some of the leading craftsmen of the day and can be seen still in the White Tower of the Tower of London.

 

Selene's Horse
Head from the East Pediment of the Parthenon about 431 BC, British Museum
London

Taken from the Acropolis in Athens, this is one of the Moon Goddesses horses. Tired from a long night pulling her chariot across the night sky, by dawn he's breathing hard and his ears are laid back in determined concentration.

This is one of the most powerful and beautiful pieces of sculpture in existence.

 

Whistlejacket
The National Gallery, London

By the "greatest painter of horses in European art" George Stubbs, about 1762. Whistlejacket was foaled in 1749 and named after a medicinal drink of gin and treacle. This life size painting of Whistlejacket, on a scale usually reserved for kings, was painted for his owner, the 2nd Marquess of Rockingham.

The Milbanke and Melbourne Families
The National Gallery, London

This painting was commissioned around 1769 and painted by George Stubbs to celebrate the union of two families. In the park phaeton is the 16 year old, and thought to be pregnant, Elizabeth Milbanke.