The Scariest Horses Ever Imagined

When you think of scary animals, chances are that the image of horses doesn’t even enter your mind because these animals are usually associated with beauty, freedom, and strength. However, it turns out that horses don’t always represent something positive. At least, that’s the case in cultural stories. In fact, there are plenty of tales where horses are terrifying creatures that eat humans, carry Death, or pull the drowned in the water. 

In this article, we’ll discuss 5 of the scariest horses ever created by mythology, folklore, and fiction.

1. The Mares of Diomedes

You can hardly find a story where a horse is presented as a predator. Even in horse racing, the only thing people are uncertain about is which animal will win. And even that has a solution, as learning how to read horse racing odds can help fans estimate the possible outcome. The Mares of Diomedes, however, were dangerous for a completely different reason: they ate people.

That’s exactly what Greek mythology tells us. According to the story, these wild horses belonged to King Diomedes of Thrace and had to be restrained with chains. It became the 8th of Heracles’ Twelve Labors to capture them, and during the mission, the mares killed and ate his companion Abderus. There’s only one version of the story where Heracles managed to calm the mares by feeding their cruel owner to them. 

2. The Each-Uisge

Speaking of legends, it seems like Greek mythology wasn’t the only tradition that imagined horses as deadly creatures capable of eating humans. If you take a look at Scottish folklore, you can notice that there’s a story of a lonely water horse that looks unusually attractive, but once travelers get on its back, its skin becomes sticky and makes it impossible for them to escape. After that, the creature runs into the water, downs its victim, and eats the body. As bad as it sounds, the only thing it can leave is the liver floating on the surface.

What makes the Each-Uisge even more dangerous is that it has the ability to transform into a handsome man. The only way to reveal his true identity is to look at the water weeds hidden in its hair. Otherwise, it might just be too late. 

3. The Headless Horseman’s Horse

If you’ve seen the movie “Sleepy Hollow,” you probably remember that the Headless Horseman rarely appeared without his enormous black horse. The name of this famous black horse is Daredevil, and he carries the undead rider through the dark forest while he hunts his victims and cuts off their heads.

Even though Washington Irving didn’t actually give the Headless Horseman’s horse this name in his story, the choice of Daredevil in the movie wasn’t random. In fact, it was originally the name of the horse ridden by Brom Bones, the man who was suggested to be hiding behind the Headless Horseman legend.

Unlike the Mares of Diomedes or the Each-Uisge, Daredevil didn’t need to attack people itself. The thing that makes him so frightening is how loyal he can be to the dead soldier, together with his enormous size and sudden appearances from the darkness.

4. The Pooka

Now let’s turn to Irish folklore and see how another seemingly ordinary horse can turn into a terrifying creature. The Pooka, also known as the Púca, is another shapeshifting spirit that can appear as different animals. So it’s not really a horse, but it’s still part of this list because its most famous form is a large black horse.

This creature usually waits for a lonely traveler and tempts them to climb onto its back. Once they do, the Pooka begins a very scary ride across the countryside. In the end, it throws the rider to the ground. 

Fortunately, unlike the Each-Uisge, the Pooka doesn’t usually drown or eat its victims. Still, being carried through the darkness by a supernatural horse with no way to escape would be terrifying enough for most of us.

5. The Kelpie

Finally, Scottish folklore gives us one more water horse that waits for people near rivers, streams, and deep pools. The Kelpie usually appears as a beautiful and unusually calm horse, making it tempting for tired travelers or curious children to climb onto its back. However, once somebody gets on the horse, it’s just not possible to escape anymore.

The Kelpie immediately rushes into the water and drags its rider beneath the surface. The helpless riders are destined to drown afterwards.

This creature is very similar to the Each-Uisge, but the two are usually connected to different types of water. Kelpies are traditionally associated with rivers and streams, while the Each-Uisge is more often found near lochs or the sea. In both cases, the lesson is the same – not to trust a lonely horse waiting beside the water.

Bottom Line

Hopefully, now you can already tell that horses aren’t always the beautiful and peaceful animals we imagine them to be. After all, mythology and fiction often used to transform these friendly animals into terrifying creatures that nobody would want to meet, let alone ride. Still, if you happen to come across an unfamiliar horse beside a dark lake, it might be better to admire it from a distance. You never know whether it is just lost or waiting for its next rider.