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Horses in Myth and Fantasy

© Marta Towne

The horse has long been a creature of beauty and myth. From the Pegasus to the Unicorn to Mr Ed, there just seems to be something about a horse that kicks our imagination into overdrive. We base many romantic illusions on the equine model. How many little girls dream of a "prince on a white horse"? When little boys play "Cowboys and Indians," what imaginary beast is their best friend? Wether we are lucky enough to have a real horsey friend, or we ride our mother's couch arms into the sunset, horses are a large part of most childhood fantasies.

Ancient man often used the horse as a base for mythological beasts and "deities." Most people are familiar with the Unicorn and Pegasus. They are usually accepted as being based on an equine base. Then there is the "Seahorse," the mount of many a sea deity. The seahorse is so named because of its resemblance to the horse.

The horse even reached into science. When we talk about a vehicle, we think about it's "horsepower." In astrology, there is the "Horsehead Nebula" and the constellation of Pegasus.

In movies and television, there are countless references to equines. From Mr Ed to Trigger to Francis the Talking Mule to Misty of Chincoteague to Black Beauty to The Black Stallion, we watch them run across the screen and into our hearts. As children we have watched them and learned from them. Boys dream of being a cowboy on a Quarter Horse, girls crave the romantic vision of The Black Stallion. Books are full of hero horses, many of which have been made into televison and movies. Who can forget My Friend Flicka? How many of us have used valuable school time sketching horses on our school books and binders?

Some of us outgrew this addiction to the equine species, but many of us, myself included, have never given up our love of these majestic beasts. Next time, let's discuss the use of assigning horses human feeling and emotions

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