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<p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><br>
<font size="+5">WHITE HORSE - 1</font></b><br>
Revered since the dawn of time, for both its beauty and religious symbolism,
the white horse has been at the centre of world events from biblical times,
to the 20th Century. Here we introduce you to the World of the White Horse,
with its mystery, mysticism, imagery and history.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b><font size="+2">THE
GODDESS EPONA AND HER WHITE MARE</font></b></font><br>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Worshipped by both Celt
and Roman.</font> </p>
<p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Our story
begins with the Celts.<br>
</b>Circa 500 BC, the<a href="http://www.watson.org/%7Eleigh/celts.html"> Celts</a>
started their Westward migration which took them from Eastern Europe - the Danube
Basin - through what is now Germany, Switzerland and France to England and Ireland.
The Celts were pre-literate and so didn't record their history and we owe it
mainly to the Greeks and Roman for information about them.The Celts which controlled
the area in Central Europe and France were called the Gauls and they spread
into Spain and into Italy, and even sacked Rome in 390BC. However, the Gauls
were pushed back by the Romans by 300BC as they built up their empire.</font>
</p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">The Celts were superb horsemen;
and have been credited even for inventing the chariot which made them forminable
warriors. So it is no surprise to learn that they venerated the horse and worshipped
a horse goddess. In Gaul and Britain this goddess was called <a href="http://www.epona.net">Epona</a>,
in Ireland Macha and in Wales Rhiannon. This worship of the horse also made
them vunerable. When the Gaul Versingetorix made his last stand against the
Roman army he sent his horses to the rear, rather than risk their slaughter,
and faced his enemies on foot.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">The Roman cavalry adopted
Epona as their own goddess.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Over time the Romans as
a whole accepted Epona and shrines were created in stables throughout the Empire.
Interestingly, Epona worship didn't spread outside the Empire</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>.</b></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Epona is generally depicted
riding side saddle in a sideways seat or chair, wearing a long garment thet
reaches to her feet and which is gathered under her breasts. A cloak may be
billowing around her head.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>The Uffington White
Horse.<br>
</b>Most archaelogists and historians believe the Celts migrated into Britain
about 200BC bringing with them their worship of Epona and her white horse. However,
horse worship seems to have been established in Britain well before the arrival
of the Celts - if this date is correct - as the downland figure in Berkshire
called the Uffington <a href="http://www.oxfordarch.co.uk/pages/whitehorse_feature.htm">White
Horse has been dated by Oxford archaeologists</a> to circa 600-1400 BC. It is
a stylised horse figure 365 feet long wih a large eye, cut into the chalk. It
is an amazing piece of Bronze Age art. However, it looks very different to the
images of Epona's white mare associated with her effigies recovered from Roman
stables and elsewhere. Some say this<a href="http://www.wiltshirewhitehorses.org.uk/uffington.html">
running horse at Uffington</a> is not a horse at all but a dragon. So speculation
on its origin and meaning continues apace.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>The White Horse Project</b>.<br>
have looked after the white horse over the last 3000 years, this Project has
established the figure needs scouring every seven years, that is to say removing
grass and shrubs obscuring the chalk and edging the outline.<a href="http://www.mspong.org/picturesque/white_horse.html">The
white horse was the standard of the Anglo Saxons</a>. Follow this link formore
information</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>G.K. Chesterton's Poem
about the White Horse.<br>
</b>"Before the gods that made the gods<br>
Had seen their sunrise pass<br>
The White Horse of the <a href="http://www.88.1911encyclopedia.org/W/WH/WHITE_HORSE_VALE_OF.htm">White
Horse Vale</a><br>
Was cut out of grass"</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b></b></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>THE WHITE HORSE AS A
CHRISTIAN SYMBOL</b></font><br>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Adopted by the Crusaders
& Mediaeval Knights</font> </p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>First Thoughts.<br>
</b> In circa 275 BC the Celts expanded into Galicia now known as Anatolia in
Central Turkey taking with them, we believe, their worship of Epona ( or the
local varient) and veneration of the white horse. Did the early Christians co-opt
the imagery of the white horse from the Celts and make it their own symbol?</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b> The White Horse of
Revelations and the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.<br>
</b>REV 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had
a bow; and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to
conquer. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">REV 19:11 And I saw heaven
opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful
and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">REV 19:14 And the armies
which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen,
white and clean </font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"> When the Lamb (Jesus)
opens the first four seals out of a total of seven from the scroll which he
has taken from God, the four horsemen of the Apocalypse appear, the<a href="http;//www/apocalipsis.org/fourhorsemen.htm">
first being the white horse</a>. The other three horses are black, red and a
pale colour. The white horse signifies triumphant warfare because the<a href="http://www.apocalipsis.org/fourhorsemen.htm">
four horsemen</a> represent war and its attendant evils strife, famine and disease.(See
REV 6:2 above). For interpretations of the meaning behind the four horsemen
please follow the links.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">The symbolism of the four
horsemen has always engaged and fascinated people from artists such as Albrecht
Durer to the sculptor who fashioned the four golden horses which originally
were commissioned to sit atop a triumphal arch in Rome only to be moved to Byzantium
later. When Byzantium became Constantinople, the four <a href="http://aggreen.net/church_history/1204_sack.html">horsemen
were looted by the Venetians</a> on their way to the<a href="http://www.brighton73.freeserve.co.uk/firstcrusade/Overview/Overview.htm">
Fourth Crusade </a>and finally taken to Venice where they graced St Mark's until
Napoleon took a fancy to them and removed them to Paris. When Napoleon was suffering
reverses and decided to curry favour with the Venetians he returned the four
horses to the top of St Mark's. The ceremony, boycotted by the locals, was a
total flop and the band played to an invisible audience. But, the four golden
horses remain atop St Mark's to this day. Although there is no absolute proof
this sculpture is of the four horsemen of the Apocalypse, that is the generally
held belief, and visitors to Venice in their thousands continue to enjoy their
symbolism and beauty.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>St George's reported
appearance at Antioch in 1098 during the First Crusade<br>
</b>"There came out from the mountains, also, countless armies with white
horses, whose standards were all white. And so, when our leaders saw this army,
they were entirely ignorant as to what it was, and who they were, until they
recognized the aid of Christ, whose leaders were St. George, Mercurius, and
Demetrius".- Gesta Francorum</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">St George is always depicted
riding on a white horse and is the Patron Saint of England. For the various
legends surrounding <a href="http://www.innotts.co.uk/asperges/george/george2.html#legend">St
George</a> including <a href="http://www.hants.org.uk/wallop/george.html">St
George and the Dragon </a>please follow the link.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>WHITE HORSE - 3</b><br>
Leaders often chose a white horse because it would stand out on the field of
battle. This picture shows William the Conqueror defeating King Harold at the
battle of Hastings, riding his white stallion, wielding a mace.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Here are some other interesting
snippets.</font></p>
<p align="center"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>FAMOUS
PEOPLE AND THEIR WHITE HORSES</b></font><br>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">In the Crusades, Middle
Ages and More Recent Times</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>William the Conqueror
at the Battle of Hastings 1066<br>
</b>"He...sat on a white horse, so that all might recognize him. In his
hand he held a mace."<br>
For more about the Battle of Hastings click here.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Eleanor of Aquitaine
circa 1147<br>
</b> </font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Queen Eleanor
appeared at Vézelay dressed like an Amazon galloping through the crowds on a
white horse, urging them to join the crusades. Aged 19, she knelt in the cathedral
of Vézelay before the celebrated Abbé Bernard of Clairvaux offering him thousands
of her vassals for the Second Crusade. For more about Eleanor and her adventures
click here.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Joan of Arc ( 1412-1431)
and her White War Horse<br>
</b></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">"Armour
shining in the sun, a lone soul sat upon a white war-horse tall and proud. Helmet
at her side, her loose hair whipped in the wind, a youthful soft loving face
peeped beneath. Her lighted eyes show wisdom that surpasses this earthly realm".For
more about Joan follow this link.<br>
www.stjoan-center.com/topics/Nicole.html</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>El Cid in 11th Century
Spain<br>
</b>The Carthusians, an order of monks, were reknowned for their Andalusian
horses in 11th Century Spain .Pedro El Grande, a monk, was the grandfather of
a boy called Rodrigo Diaz de Bivar. When he came of age Pedro offered the boy
the pick of a herd of beautiful horses. Rodrigo chose a white foal which he
named Babieca, "my stupid one" which grew into a forminable charger.
This white stallion carried Pedro into battle for some 30 years, every time
to victory. The Saracen enemies called him El Cid Campeador or My Lord the champion
of Warriors. After the death of El Cid in the battle for Valencia, one of the
last Moorish strongholds in Spain, Babieca never carried a mount again and died
two years later at the ripe old age of 40.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Andalusian horses were
a blend of mainly Arabian and Berber stock with some admixture of English blood.They
were used with great success as war horses by the Carthaginians in their campaigns
against the Romans who in turn captured and bred then for their own purposes.Its
not known what percentage of this original breed were white. The Andalusians
of today are however about 80% white</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Napoleon at the Battle
of Waterloo 1815<br>
</b>Napoleon was seen on a white stallion at Waterloo believed to be his famous
mount Marengo. After the battle, Marengo was taken to England and put on display
at the Waterloo Rooms on Pall Mall where the crowds pressed in to see this "White
Barb Charger..favourite horse of the late Emperor". For a longer account
follow this link.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Lt General U.S. Grant
and Methuselah in the Civil war<br>
</b>In 1861 General Grant rode Methuselah,his favourite horse, a white stallion,
into Springfield, Illinois<b>.</b></font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>WHITE HORSE - 4</b><br>
White horses are immensely popular today not just among the general public but
with organisations such as the Queen's Household Cavalry and the US Marine Corps
Color Guard where they feature on ceremonial occasions.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">The illustration here shows
heavy white horses working in West Sussex.</font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"></font></p>
<p align="center"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>MORE
ABOUT THE WHITE HORSE IN RECENT TIMES</b></font><br>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">Lipizzans, Andalusians &
Camargue </font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>The Camargue<br>
</b>The Camargue is the wide, marshy delta of the River Rhone. The white horse
of the Camargue is a distictive breed and has its origins in prehistory, pehaps
even in the extinct Soutre Horse. There is some speculation it may have been
introduced to Spain and mixed with Andalusian stock as the result of armed conquest.
The Camargue is very strong and is capable of running through belly-deep water
and mud.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Lipizzans<br>
</b> Originated as abreed in 1580 when Archduke Charles 11 started a stud farm
at Lipizza on the Adriatic coast. He used imported Andalusians, Barbs and Berbers
and bred them to the local white Karst horses. Today Lipizzans are mainkly white
or grey and are very popular for dressage and for Royal and ceremonial occasions.<a href="http://www.imh.org/imh/bw/lipizzans#history">
For more information on white Lipizzans follow this link.</a></font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Andalusians<br>
</b>Named after Andalusia a province of Spain the Andalusian has developed from
the early Iberian horse which had its roots in prehistory.Famed as the premier
war horse from BC until the early Middle Ages, an Iberian White was used, for
example, by William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings. Exactly what perventage
of this early stock were white horses isn't known but the modern Andalusians
are 80% white. Andalusians are very popular for dressage and like the Lipizzans
are used by Royalty. More about <a href="http://www.imh.org/imh/bw/andalu.html#hist">white
Andalusians</a>, just follow this link.</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Editor's
Note <br>
</b>In equine circles white horses are referred to as Greys.<br>
For more information on <a href="http://www.imh.org.">horse breeds</a> follow
this link.<br>
</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>The saying
'White Horses' seems to have originated in the Singapore Armed Forces</b> but
has found resonance in America. White Horses are the sons of influential Singaporeans
including ministers, members of parliament, ex members, doctors, and senior
civil servants. If you know the origin of this phrase and are familiar with
the usage, especially in the context of the White House & George Bush (see
below) , please drop a message in the <a href="guestbook.htm" target="_parent">Guestbook</a>.
Thank you.<br>
The dictionary definition is this <a href="http://thefreedictionary.com/white%20horse">"white
horse - a wave that is blown by the wind so its crest is broken and appears
white"</a> In addition there are several slang uses of the term.</font></p>
<p align="left">"<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">White
House officials are considering buffing up <b>George W. Bush's image as a 'White
Horse' </b>during his Vietnam years, and the slogan <b>"From White Horse to
White House" </b>has been chosen to highlight his years of service in the US
military."</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"> "Bush
Administration officials released a statement praising<b> <a href="http:www.talkingcock.com/html/article.php?sid=1336">Singapore's
White Horse system</a></b>, where sons of prominent members of society are carefully
nurtured during their NS days" - Talking Cock.Com</font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">For a discussion
about the White Horse System we suggest you read this article on the Workers
Party Website <a href="http://www.wp.org.sg/news/news_articles/200311117_whitehorse.htm">http://www.wp.org.sg/news/news_articles/20031117_whitehorse.htm</a></font></p>
<p> </p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>WHITE HORSE - 5</b><br>
Here we give a snapshot of the art, imagery and symbolism of the white horse
over the centuries. <br>
Artists, such as Gauguin, Constable and Munnings have immortalised the white
horse in their canvases and others in their pub signs, the latter still in use
outside hostelries throughout Britain; and some in America where the imagery
was taken by the early settlers.</font></p>
<p align="center"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>THE WHITE
HORSE IN ART</b></font><br>
</p>
<p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Pub Signs
<br>
</b>King Richard II passed a law in 1393 whereby all <a href="http://www.briantimms.com/pubsigns/introduction.htm">hostelries
had to hang a sign outside their premises </a>to facilitate the official inspection
of the ale they were selling. Here are some examples, the one on the bottom
right taken from the logo of <a href="http://www.whitehorseinn.org" target="_blank">White
Horse Inn,</a> a nationally syndicated radio talk show in America comprising
a round-table discussion on Christian Theology and Apologetics.The story behind
the naming of the show is fascinating and a full account has been written up
by<a href="http://www.whitehorseinn.org/whihist.htm" target="_blank"> Shane
Rosenthal.</a> In brief, the White Horse Inn was on the campus of King's College,
Cambridge, England where in circa 1520 a group of English scholars met regularly
to discuss Martin Luther's writings. These meetings over ale went on to become
the spark which kindled the 'fire' of the Reformation, leading ultimately to
the martyrdom of most of those who attended. In the words of one writer these
men "would offer their lives to procure the truths of faith that they rallied
for over pints of ale in that Cambridge pub", the White Horse Inn.</font></p>
<p align="center"><img src="WhiteHorseSign.jpg" width="119" height="116"><img src="whitehorsewhitwell.gif" width="150" height="230"><img src="white_horse_inn.jpg" width="120" height="155"><br>
<font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><font size="-2" color="#FFFFFF">Whitbread
white hosre sign from the Brian Timms Collection</font></font> </p>
<p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b>Links to
Pub Signs<br>
</b><a href="http://www.briantimms.com/pubsigns/introduction.htm" target="_blank">Brian
Timms Collection</a> <a href="http://www.bjcurtis.force9.co.uk/html/history_of_signs.html" target="_blank">The
Inn Sign Society </a><b> </b><a href="http://www.norman.walsh.name/2003/10/13/pubsigns" target="_blank">NormanWals</a>h
<a href="http://www.intlsigns.com/world/history/pub_signs/">International Signs</a></font></p>
<p align="left"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b> Links
to White Horse Art & Other Equestian Art<br>
</b><a href="http://www.artprints-on-demand.co.uk">Artprints On Demand<br>
</a></font><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><a href="http://www.whitehorsestudios.net">
White Horse Studios</a><br>
<a href="http://www.lesleyannhartman.com">Lesley Ann Hartman</a><br>
<a href="http://www.whitehorseforge.com">White Horse Forge</a><b><br>
</b><a href="http://www.joannebird.com">Apocalypse by Joanne Bird</a></font></p>
<p align="left"><b><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1">We hope
you have found this compendium helpful. Should you find any major ommission
or error please contact the editor: <a href="mailto:info@freevetadvice.co.uk">info@freevetadvice.co.uk</a>
or leave a comment in the Guestbook which you'll find<a href="guestbook.htm" target="_parent">
here </a>. We still want to have information on White Horse Symbolism in America
- perhaps you can help?</font></b></p>
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<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><b> </b></font></p>
<p align="center"><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="-1"><a href="whitehorse.htm">[White
Horse 1 ]</a> <a href="whitehorse2.htm">[White Horse 2]</a> <a href="whitehorse3.htm">[White
Horse 3]</a> <a href="whitehorse4.htm">[White Horse 4]</a></font></p>
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