Horses are animals familiar to humans, appearing in many myths and legends. In most of the stories horses are depicted as loyal, brave, kind animals. However, in some places horses are monsters that frighten humans.
Tikbalang is a mythical creature in Filipino folklore. It hides deep in the mountains or in wild caves. Tikbalang is often depicted with a horse’s head and legs, a tall build, a human body with long, disproportionate limbs. Because of that, the monster’s gait was very unsightly. Tikbalang’s feet are horseshoes and his head is also a horse.
In the northern regions of the Philippines, Tikbalang is depicted as a nuisance to deep-forest explorers. They make people lose their way and get lost by creating illusions that are not real , and eventually die from fatigue and hunger.
Many stories have it that, Tikbalang made the victim stray to the place of the demons in the deep forest to make food for them. Luckily, we can get rid of Tikbalang’s joke if you put your shirt upside down and ask them not to bother anymore.
However, the Tikbalangs living in the South are more cruel. They have bloodshot eyes, stink, and when angry, can trample men to death. If the victim is a woman, they will rape and let them carry the baby Tikbalang.
There is a way to tame this evil Tikbalang, which is to pluck one of its three unusually long mane hairs. This hair was used as a talisman to make Tikbalang a slave.
Siguanaba is a creature mentioned in many South American folk tales. Siguanaba often appears near the water source on moonless nights, viewed from behind, it has the shape of an extremely charming and attractive woman.
This woman often bathes or washes clothes at night, but absolutely does not reveal her face. Siguanaba showed his face to any man when he agreed to follow her into the deep forest.
Those who are eager will immediately agree to go to the forest to admire the face of that attractive woman. However, she will lead the victim deep into the forest, near a large waterfall or deep abyss.
After that, Siguanaba will reveal his true face, which is a horse’s head with a terrifying neigh. The victim was so scared that he fell to the bottom of the cliff and died.
The naughty children who do not listen to their parents are also the targets of Siguanaba’s visits. When a child hides from his parents on a moonless night, the Siguanaba will come to them. At this point, the Siguanaba will transform, wearing the same outfit as the child’s mother and seducing them.
As soon as the victim approaches Siguanaba, she will show off the scary horse head that scares the child into madness. The only way to protect yourself against Siguanaba is to carve the sign of the Cross on you, the monster will ignore you and look for another victim.
Nuckelavee resembles a centaur in Greek mythology with a horse’s lower body and human upper body. However, it has a very large mouth and a single giant eye. Nuckelavee’s whole body is covered with a red color of blood, more frightening, many parts of Nuckelavee’s body are rotting, even bones.
The people of Scotland spread the story of this centaur demon, they described Nuckelavee with three heads, two horse heads and a human head . Nuckelavee is blamed for the dreaded epidemics.
In addition, many people believe that the sight of Nuckelavee is also a harbinger of an impending disaster. Those unlucky enough to encounter Nuckelavee will be withered by his foul breath.
Ceffyl DWR is a famous monster in Wales and is described very thoroughly in the book “Welsh Folklore” by the famous writer Marie Trevelyan.
Ceffyl DWR is depicted as large in appearance, with a horse’s forelimbs but fish-tailed hind limbs. Ceffyl DWR’s fur is snow-white, so many people think it is an extremely gentle and likable creature. But the truth is not so, anyone who approaches, Ceffyl jumps up high and stomps them to death.
Some other documents record that Ceffyl sometimes even grows wings and can talk . On days when the fog covers the river, it jumps ashore and offers to convince anyone that it will carry them around. If anyone agrees, Ceffyl will carry the victim to the middle of the sea and then release them on a scary desert island.
Kelpie is a monster from the rivers and lakes of Scotland. It is often called a water horse because of its appearance in the form of a white horse.
Thanks to its radiant beauty, Kelpie deceives many people, once mounted, it will take the victim to deep water and eat meat.
Another variant of Kelpie is the monster Glashtyn on the island of Nykur, Ireland. Many documents also say that the Lochness monster is actually a Kelpie.
The Jersey Monster is a mystical creature or monster that is said to have appeared in the Pine Barrens in Southern New Jersey, USA from the 1800s until the 20th century. This monster is often described as an animal with claws and flying, wings like the wings of a bat and a head like the head of a horse.
The Jersey Monster is believed to be responsible for crop destruction, strange footprints, and horrible sounds. In the early 1900s, many people in New Jersey and the surrounding area claimed to have seen this monster with their own eyes.