Urban Horses: Traditional Workers of Vienna

Raušl, Gašper (author), Repič, Jaka (mentor), Baskar, Bojan (comentor)

This thesis investigates the intimate working relationships between humans and horses in Vienna, with a focus on horse-drawn carriages, known as FIakers. Through eleven month of ethnographic fieldwork, the research examines the daily interactions between coachmen and their horses, exploring the close bonds that develop through their collaborative work in an urban setting. The study situates these working relationships within the broader contexts of tourism, tradition and modernity, to show how Vienna9s carriages and horses have transitioned from essential labor animals to symbols of cultural heritage. With a focus on emotional and practical bonds between coachmen and horses, this thesis addresses tensions arising from animal welfare concerns, regulatory changes, and the socio-political dynamics that shape perceptions of this profession. By emphasizing the mutual cooperation between humans and horses, the thesis sheds light on suitability of urban equestrianism in Vienna.

• Language: English
• Keywords: human-animal relationships, animal work, cooperation, urban equestrianism, Vienna
• Work type: Master's thesis/paper
• Organization: FF - Faculty of Arts
• Year: 2024
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-164615
• Publication date in RUL: 06.11.2024

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Title: Urbani konji: Tradicionalni delavci Dunaja

Abstract

Magistrsko delo obravnava delovna razmerja med ljudmi in konji na Dunaju. Na podlagi enajstmesečne etnografske raziskave preučuje vsakodnevne interakcije med kočijaži in njihovimi konji. Delo osvetljuje tesne vezi, ki se razvijejo skozi njihovo skupno delo v urbanem okolju. Magistrsko delo postavi delovna razmerja v širši kontekst turizma, tradicije in modernosti. Na ta način osvetli, kako so dunajski konji prešli iz delovnih živali v simbol kulturne dediščine. S poudarkom na čustvenih in praktičnih vezeh med kočijaži in konji, magistrsko delo obravnava napetosti, ki izhajajo iz skrbi za dobrobit živali, sprememb pravil in družbeno-politične dinamike. Vse to oblikuje percepcije tega poklica. S poudarkom na medsebojnem sodelovanju med ljudmi in konji delo osvetljuje tudi primernost urbanega konjeništva na Dunaju.

• Keywords: odnosi med ljudmi in živalmi, delo z živalmi, sodelovanje, urbano konjeništvo, Dunaj