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Dr. Peter Raulwing

An expert on the history and training methods of Kikkuli, the chariot horse trainer who wrote about horses during the Hittite Kingdom of 1,400 B.C.

 

1 -    What is the single greatest change you have witnessed in the equestrian world during your life time?

N/A.

 

2 -    Do you ride?

No.

 

3 -    Do you own a horse?

No [neither a chariot :-)  ]

 

4 -    Who is your favorite horse in history?

Bukephalos (the horse of Alexander the Great) and Marengo (the horse of Napoleon).

 

5 -    Who do you think was the most influential equestrian human in history and why?

N/A.

 

6 -    What was your greatest equestrian influence from books or cinema when you were young?

N/A.

 

7 -    What equestrian book would you recommend today and why?

For the history of horses and chariots the publications of M. A. Littauer/J.H. Crouwel, Selected Writings on Chariots, other Early Vehicles, Riding and Harness. Leiden [etc.], 2002 and M. Fansa/S. Burmeister (eds.), Rad und Wagen. Der Ursprung einer Innovation. Wagen im Vorderen Orient und Europa. Mainz: von Zabern, 2004 are indispensable in my field.

 

8 -    How did you initially become interested in your specific equestrian specialty?

At university in classes on the ancient Near East.

 

9 -    What prompted you to enter that field?

Further specialized seminars on horses and chariots in the ancient Near East.

 

10 -    Did someone encourage your decision or inspire you?

See above 8. and 9.

 

11 -  When did you begin your research, investigation, work?

Almost 25 years ago.

 

12 -    What do you think is your most important discovery, achievement or insight regarding your equestrian work?

Having been able to study all interdisciplinary sources related to horses and chariots in the ancient Near East and adjacent areas and having published my research. Thus, I see my contribution as whole.

 

13 -    What modern technology, techniques and media have you found most helpful?

Online catalogues and the advantages of the internet (research and communication).

 

14 -    What part of your work do you find most fulfilling?

Basically all from drafting a problem, research, writing and publishing.

 

15 -    What’s been your biggest disappointment in your work?

In general: Not having met Mary Littauer and Joost Crouwel earlier.

Recently: Not having been able to locate more excavation material of the Buhen horse found in Nubia in 1958 such as photographs and excavation diaries (see Raulwing/Clutton-Brock 2009).

 

16 -    How do you explain the gulf between academic equestrian investigation and the average horse owner?

Due to the academic disciplines involved in dealing with horses and chariots in ancient Near East, the entry level in regards to languages, peoples, (cultural) history, history of research, and published studies is very high and makes it difficult to sort out reliable information and generally accepted results in each research field or discipline.

 

17 -    What equestrian subjects are in need of more research and investigation?

A thorough new history of the horse based on all available evidence, from written sources to latest results in genetics.

 

18 -    Which part of the equestrian world would you like to see reformed and why?

N/A.

 

19 -    How do you traditionally deliver your findings or message and how would you ideally like to do so?

Through discussions with colleagues and, eventually, publishing.

 

20 -    What intellectual, technical or ethical advances would you like to see in the horse world?

N/A.

 

21 -    Do you foresee any difficulties for the horse world in the immediate future?

N/A.

 

22 -    What is the greatest challenge facing the horse world in the long term?

N/A.

 

23 -     What books, magazines, websites, etc. can people read and review to learn more about your work?

As an easy access starting point, I might refer to the bibliography in the article on the Kikkuli Text. Please feel free to contact me for further bibliography or questions (which I hope I might be able to answer to point in the right direction).

 

24 -    Any final thoughts?

Thanks a lot to all involved in setting up the Voices of Authority project. It offers a forum where everybody interested in equestrian studies of such a variety of topics can find a starting point as well as references that might lead to further research and exchange of opinions.

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