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Virtually Horses |
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The Horse |
Trivia - Famous Horses from History and Mythology | |
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Here's out list of famous horses - from the Military mounts to the racing wonders and everything in between. BUCEPHALUS: Alexander the Great (356-323 BC) was the outstanding military leader of his age. Many believe Bucephalus was most likely an arab, or part arab, as his name means 'ox-head' which they believe refers to the broad forehead and slightly concave profile which is characteristic of both arab horses and the local Thessalonian strain. However, it may also have referred to his character as although it was Alexander's father, Philip of Macedon who bought Bucephalus, he was so unruly that he could not be ridden. However,the story is that Alexander noted that the horse was afraid of his own shadow and therefore rode him facing into the sun. Alexander rode Bucephalus for the last time in 327 BC (or 326BC) in battle against the Indian King Porus, who they defeated at the Hydaspes River. Bucephalus was 30 years old and died from his wounds at the end of the day. He was buried with military honours. For more information click here BABIECA: Babieca was the white horse of Spanish hero, Ruy Diaz, better known as 'El Cid'. The story goes that Diaz was gifted a horse of his choice by his godfather. When he chose the plain and immature horse, his godfather exclaimed "Babieca!" - Stupid!, and the name stuck. However, Babieca was to become Diaz's loyal warhorse and when El Cid died in 1099 at Valencia, he had one final battle to lead. El Cid's last instruction was that his body be secured on Babieca, in full armour and with sword raised. When the pair led the Spanish knights into battle, the moors fled, crying that El Cid had risen from the dead. After El Cid was buried, Babieca was not ridden again and died 2 years later at the age of 40. Other famous warhorses include - Napolean's Marengo, Wellington's Copenhagen and General Robert E Lee's Traveller Sefton & Echo: In 1982, an IRA bomb exploded in Hyde Park in the midst of the Household Cavalry. Four soldiers and seven horses were killed and many others injured. One horse from the household cavalry and another from the Metropolitan Police survived to become a much loved equine heros. Sefton, the cavalry horse survived despite being penetrated by nails, metal, and scorched by fireballs. He was considered a hero and his plight and recovery brought to light the great suffering and will to survive that horses have. He was named Horse of the Year at the Wembley Horse Show that year. He died a few years ago. Link to Royal Mews website Echo, the former Metropolitan police horse recently (2002) celebrated his 30th birthday at the Home of Rest for Horses, Princes Risborough, Buckinghamshire UK where he has spent the last 18 years of his retirement. Napoleon - Marengo (ridden at Waterloo) Prophets and Religious Figures Horses The Prophet Mohammed's Al Borak "The lightning". In Arabian myth, the
winged horse brought by Gabriel to carry the great prophet Muhammad from
earth to the Seventh Heaven. The horse itself was received into
paradise. It had the face of a man but the cheeks of a horse;it had the
wings of an eagle, spoke with the voice of a man, and flattered all over
with radiant light.
more on Al Borak ... GENERAL GEORGE ARMSTRONG CUSTER was an officer in the Civil War, but
his fame came later, when he and all his troops were killed in a battle
with Native Americans (led by Chief Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse). The
event became known as Custer's Last Stand. The only U.S. survivor of
that battle was COMANCHE, an Army horse who was found two days after the
battle with many wounds, very weak and barely able to stand. (Comanche
belonged not to Custer but to one of his officers, Miles Keogh.) |
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Military Horses |
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| Related Pages | ||
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Terminology Women Riders Books |
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| The Horse in Mythology | ||
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Sleipnir was Odin's horse in Scandanavian mythology. Sleipnir was an eight footed stallion which could carry Odin over the sea or into the land of the dead. In ancient Greek mythology the God Poseidon created the horse and horse racing
Balius (Balios) and Xanthus (Xanthos), the two supernatural horses of ACHILLES. Lampus - There are two, One of the horses of Hector and one of
Eos' steeds. Parthenia - One of the mares of Marmax. Phaethon - One of Eos' steeds.
The horses of Helius - Pyrois, Phlegon, Eous, Bronte, Therbeeo, Aethiops The horses of Hector - Podargus, Xanthus, Lampus, Aeothon Rhaebus - The horse of Mezentius; killed by Aeneas. |
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Screen Stars - Horses from Movies and Television Dick Turpin - Black Bess
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Arion
- Demeter, trying to flee from the advances of Poseidon, changed into
the form of a mare but Poseidon changed into a stallion and the union
resulted in the birth of a black-maned horse and a nymphly daughter. The
horse was called Arion. He is described as having human feet on
his right hand side and the ability to speak. When Heracles waged
war against Elis, was carried to battle on Arion's back. Later he was
given by Heracles to Adrastus. Adrastus' life was saved by Arion
in the war against Thebes.
Pegasus
- Winged horse offspring of Poseidon & Medusa, it is said to have sprung
from the neck of the slain Medusa, splattered in blood. This horse
opened up a spring on a mountain by striking the rock with its hoof.
Bellerophon rode Pegasus when he went to kill the Chimera. 