Challenging Subjects: Towards Ethnographic Analyses of Animals

This article is an exploration of and experiment in animal‐centric ethnographic research. I first delve into key conceptual, scholarly, and practical issues which extend from the growing interdisciplinary interest in human‐animal relations, and the anthropological emphasis on multispecies ethnography. I then offer experimental ethnographic data focused on horses in show jumping stables in Canada. I approach the horses as both biological and sociocultural beings who affect and are affected by their formal jobs as show jumping horses. Through the concept of work‐lives, I also highlight the multi‐dimensional nature of their experiences as whole beings who have their own relationships and interests which are simultaneously shaped by and distinct from their human‐prescribed roles. I am interested in the methodological possibilities as gateways to deeper understanding of animals, more ethical practice within and beyond universities, and more just multispecies futures.