Different cultures have various meanings for the horse. When you see this beautiful creature racing across a rolling meadow of green, you can only marvel at the magnificence of it all. It's truly breathtaking to see this amazing four legged with hooves, thundering against the ground and its strong, well muscled body reaching for more distance, more ground. The horse's tail is arched and flowing and a long, full mane is blowing in the wind from the speed of the adventurous run. And, if you stand just in earshot, you can also hear the sounds of those hooves and the hard, fast breath of the horse as it makes its way past you. If you're quick enough, you might also catch its flared nostrils pulling and pushing air in and out of its lungs with its dark eyes focused on the prize -- freedom!
If you've ever had the opportunity to actually ride a horse, it's also an experience you rarely forget. Whether you have raced across a meadow, trotted through a trail of trees, or cantered alongside a river, you have experienced a personal, up front and much closer relationship between you and horse. Doesn't matter whether you walk, trot, canter, gallop, or run for the roses, it's the same. You and horse are trying to be one together whether you've ridden for a few minutes, a few hours, or for a very long time. You have made contact with that animal, not only in body, but also in personality, mind, and spirit. You are touching in with that particular animal's essence.
These types of personal experiences are some of the reasons I believe, why various cultures have tried to describe these experiences and feelings and also to intuit what the spirit of that animal may represent. For example, from early Native America perspective, "stealing horses was stealing power". Horse played a very important role in native cultures. Also during the days of the early west, if a horse was stolen, one could get hanged for it. To native cultures, horse represents both physical and unearthly power. Through the relationship between horse and humans, civilization grew because horse let humans ride upon its back and travel great distances. It is believed that horse was the first animal medicine of civilization, according to Jamie Sams and David Carson, authors of Medicine Cards. Horse can also represent balance and power.
The Druid earth religion calls the spirit of horse "Each", and some descriptions of meanings relate to travel either in the physical world, or drawn to a voyage in the inner realms. Horse can represent a full cycle of birth, death, after life and rebirth.
It has been shown how mystical and magical a horse can be with such stories as those of the Unicorn, and Pegasus. These stories are full of the enchantment, mystery and power of spiritual understandings. And yet, horse can also be respected and admired in our everyday world too, such as the horses portrayed in the movies National Velvet, or the Black Stallion.
Many meanings give horse as animal totem or medicine or guide, a value of importance. When you see a horse, you may feel the presence of power, stamina, grace, balance, travel, freedom and more. So, the next time you see a horse cross your path in whatever way it shows up, take notice. And if it really draws your attention in some way, pay attention! The spirit of horse may be trying to tell you something you need to know.
