Beautiful, Mythical And Magical Horses

Horses have an extremely long and varied history. Horses are beautiful animals and seem to have a spiritual presence. They are extraordinarily sensitive creatures which have this almost mystical ability to pick up on human emotions and moods. 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. Different cultures have different names and legends that pertain to the unicorn. 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 legend states that the Emperor traced into the dirt on the ground the symbols in which the unicorn was covered. This was the beginning of the Chinese written language.

In Arabia the unicorn is called the Karkadaan. It is a ferocious war like creature that can appear in different forms. The unicorn makes its first appearance in 416 BC in written accounts from India. 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.

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. Yet Southern European accounts tell of a golden creature, or else one which is almost black. Their horn is said to have magical healing powers.

The modern unicorn is described as similar to the European unicorn, except it is bigger and resembles a horse more closely. It is said to look exactly like a horse with a horn in the middle of its head. 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. You can find numerous references and depictions of unicorns in books, films and even childrens’ toys. We all know that the existence of the unicorn is but a fairy-tale, but that fairy-tale continues to delight generation after generation.

The Magical Flying Horse.

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. Zeus gave Pegasus the honoured task of carrying his thunderbolts. Euippe became Pegasus’s mate and they had two offspring named Melanippe and Celeris. According to the myth, When Pegasus was about to die, Zeus transformed him into a constellation so as he could be honoured forever.

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. Some contend that the luck originates from the horse itself, and the shoe is lucky by mere association. An old belief in the magical properties of iron had blacksmiths therefore as magicians wielding powers of the supernatural. Witches and demons could thus be kept at bay by the hanging of an iron horseshoe above the doorway.

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.

Throughout the ages there have been many old wives’ tales and superstitions about horses and donkeys. Here are some of the more interesting ones that have been passed down the generations.

•  If a horse stepped in the paw print of a wolf it would become crippled.
•  Changing the name of a horse is said to bring bad luck to the horse’s owner.
•  Inhaling a horse’s breath was said to be a cure for whooping cough.
•  Riding a donkey whilst facing the wrong way is supposedly a cure for snakebites and toothache.
•  To change the bad luck associated with breaking a mirror you would lead a horse through your house.
•  To prevent a witch from casting a spell on your horse you would carry a rowan wood whip.
•  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.
•  Putting pennies into your water tank would stop a mare being irritable.
•  Putting a horse’s skull under the floor where the piano is situated was said to improve the tone of the instrument.

A horse is a beautiful and fascinating creature which does seem to give off this air of mysticism. Certainly they inspire awe in most who are fortunate to come into contact with them. This mysterious ability to awe and inspire is perhaps why so many civilisations and cultures hold the horse dear to their hearts. 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.