Fossil records show that horses have been around at least since the last ice age. Horses are beautiful animals and seem to have a spiritual presence. Their ability to pick up on our emotions and their sensitivity to our moods imbues them with something of a mysticism. Perhaps this is why horses throughout the ages have been a focal point of many myths and legends.
The Magical Unicorn.
One of the most well known mythical horses is the Unicorn, which has long captured the heart of the young and the old. There are different names and legends ascribed to the unicorn across many different cultures. The story of the origin of the Chinese written language involves a unicorn by the name of Ki Lin who showed it to Emperor Fu His over five thousand years ago. The legend states that the Emperor traced into the dirt on the ground the symbols in which the unicorn was covered. The story goes that this is how the written Chinese language originated.
The Karkadaan is the name by which the unicorn is referred to in Arabia. This particular version of the unicorn is of a fierce and war-like creature which can manifest itself in different appearances. The first written accounts of a unicorn were in India in 416 BC. White in colour, this creature had dark blue eyes and a long horn atop a dark red head.
The European unicorn - according to folk legend - is like a horse, but smaller in statue, around three feet tall and weighs about 100 pounds. In Northern Europe the unicorn is described as being white or creamy in colour. In Southern Europe they are described as being nearly black to a golden colour. Their horn is said to have magical healing powers.
Today’s unicorns are depicted as being more closely looking like a horse and a little larger than older descriptions of the European unicorn. Unicorns are commonly depicted as being identical to a horse, with the exception of a long horn on his forehead. It is usually depicted as being pure white, however it has even been described as being colours like pink, purple and blue.
The modern mythical images of unicorns even today remain a popular fascination with young and old in Western cultures. Many books, films, stories and even kids’ toys feature a mythical beast which we call the unicorn. The unicorn may be only an imaginary being, but it is still an enduring myth and one which continues to be popular even in this modern world.
The Magical Flying Horse.
Another horse type creature that has been written about in mythology and other stories is Pegasus. Pegasus - offspring of Posiedon and Medusa in Greek mythology - was a magnificent white winged horse that was ridden by Bellerophon and had mystic powers. Honoured by the Greek god Zeus, Pegasus was given the special job of carrying Zeus’s thunderbolts. Pegasus mated with Euippe and produced Celeris and Melanippe. Zeus bestowed honour upon Pegasus by transforming him into a constellation, so the mythology states.
A Good Luck Symbol.
In many countries and to many people the horseshoe is a symbol of good luck. How exactly this came to be is unclear, yet it is one of the most famous superstitions relating to horses. The crescent shape of the horse shoe is symbolic of protection, and some say that this is the source of the luck. Another belief states that it is lucky by virtue of having been worn by a horse which embues it with such. Blacksmiths were once believed to have supernatural powers; magicians to be able to work with iron, whch was said to have magical powers of its own. For this reason you could hang an iron horseshoe above your do to keep witches and demons away.
Another lucky aspect of the horseshoe is the fact there are seven nail holes in each one. In some cultures the number seven is considered a lucky number. An ancient belief states that if a horse’s shoes were made from the iron of a sword which had killed someone, then that horse would forever be as swift as lightening and never grow fatigued.
Many superstitions and old wives’ tales have surrounded horses and donkeys throughout the ages. Some of the strangest and most interesting superstitions surrounding horses are listed below.
- A horse would become crippled if it stepped in a wolf paw print.
- Bad luck will befall you if you change a horse’s name.
- Inhaling a horse’s breath was said to be a cure for whooping cough.
- Both toothache and snakebites can apparently be cured by riding backwards on a donkey.
- If you break a mirror, you can reverse the associated bad luck if you walk through your house with a horse.
- By carrying a rowan wood whip you could prevent a witch from casting a spell on your horse.
- To cure warts you would circle them with horse hair.
- To protect yourself from witches you take the tail hair from a black stallion and wear it on your wrist.
- If you put pennies in your water tank this can prevent a mare becoming irritable or grumpy.
- To improve the tone of a piano a horse’s skull was put underneath the floor where the piano was.
Horses are amazing animals and do seem to have an elusive air of mystical presence. Most people who spend time around horses talk of their special awe-inspiring qualities. Their important place in the history and development of so many cultures and civilisations is down at least in part to this amazing ability to awe and inspire. As such an integral part of our folklore and legend, horses have and always will be part of the stories we tell our children.
This article has been published for the millions of horse enthusiasts all over the world by Animal Friends Equine Insurance - the UK’s only not-for-profit horse insurance provider. You can buy horse rider insurance today online or by phone, and all net profits go towards helping animals in crisis around the globe.