大象传媒

The poet laureate has an intriguing encounter with a horse, as he tries to find a way into writing his new poem about animals.

Simon Armitage has written a lot about animals in the past, but always at a distance. He wants that to change, and to feel that he has captured the spirit of an animal, and done it justice.

In this episode Simon gets to know Prince, one of the horses at 'Strength and Learning and Learning Through Horses' - an Equine Assisted Therapy Centre in Hertfordshire. He also shares the poem 'The Horses' by Edwin Muir with the team at the centre, to see if they recognise Muir's description of the creatures they know so well.

Contributors:
Professor Robert Crawford, poet, critic and biographer
Rosie Bensley - Strength and Learning through Horses - Horse Trainer
Jemma Hockley - Strength and Learning through Horses - Clinical Psychologist
Prince the horse
Dr Rosie Jones McVey - Social Anthropologist, author of 'Globtetrotting: A Travelogue of Horsemanship in Far Flung Places'

'The Horses' by Edwin Muir is read by John McKay

Producer: Faith Lawrence
Mixed by Sue Stonestreet