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. It was a unicorn by the name of Ki Lin which showed Chinese Emperor Fu His, over five thousand years ago, the first characters of written Chinese, so legend has it. The story goes that the unicorn was covered in symbols and the emperor traced them in the dirt on the ground. 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. It is from India as far back as 416 BC that we get the first written accounts of a unicorn. They were described as being white in colour, with dark blue eyes, a dark red head and a horn on their forehead that was about a foot and a half long.
According to folk legend, the European unicorn is similar to a horse, yet smaller, only weighing around one hundred pounds and standing about three feet high. A white or cream colour is attributed to the unicorn in Northern Europe. In Southern Europe they are described as being nearly black to a golden colour. Contained in the unicorn’s horn are the magical powers of healing, so the legend goes.
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. In reality unicorns do not exist, however, in our hearts and minds they will always have a special place.
The Winged Stallion.
Another horse type creature that has been written about in mythology and other stories is Pegasus.Offspring of Poseidon and Medusa, the mystical winged horse Pegasus was ridden by Bellerophon, hero of Greek mythology. 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. Some say it is because it is crescent shaped and that shape is suppose to be symbolic of protection. Others believe that the luck emanates from the animal itself. 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. Witches and demons could thus be kept at bay by the hanging of an iron horseshoe above the doorway.
The horseshoe could also be considered lucky by virtue of the seven nail holes in each. 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.
Horses and donkeys seem to have attracted more than their fair share of superstitions and old wives tales over the course of time. Here are some of the more interesting ones that have been passed down the generations.
- A horse would become crippled if it stepped in a wolf paw print.
- If you change a horse’s name it will bring you bad luck.
- If you wanted to cure whooping cough, the patient should inhale the breath of a horse.
- To cure toothaches and snakebites you ride on a donkey sitting backwards.
- To change the bad luck associated with breaking a mirror you would lead a horse through your house.
- Carrying a rowan wood whip would protect your horse from witches’ spells.
- To cure warts you would circle them with horse hair.
- Wearing the tail hair of a black stallion is supposed to protect you from witches.
- 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 do often appear to have this magical quality which continues to draw us to them. Certainly they inspire awe in most who are fortunate to come into contact with them. 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. The horse forms an important and even integral part of our cultural identity, being so intertwined with our storytelling traditions as it has been, and most likely always will be..
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.
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