The Little Encyclopedia of Mythical Horses: An A-to-Z Guide to Legendary Steeds (The Little Encyclopedias of Mythological Creatures)

“Fans of mythology will find The Little Encyclopedia of Mythical Horses clever and educational—a book to be read over and over again.”

What’s not to love about a horse? Sturdy, strong, sometimes gentle, sometimes not. They come in all sizes—small, medium, and large.

And they have a story to tell. In The Little Encyclopedia of Mythical Horses author Eliza Berkowitz takes us on a ride through history and discusses the many horses—some real, some mythical—that we have heard of, and some we have not.

Unlike the sister book, The Encyclopedia of Fairies, Berkowitz dives into the history of the horse. “For thousands of years, horses have played a central role in the stories and folklore of nearly every culture. . . . The influence of the horse on literature, art, and popular culture cannot be overstated.”

Berkowitz begins by discussing the important relationship horses have with agriculture. “Capable of completing farm labor much more efficiently than humans, horses were used to herd other animals, carry harvested goods and other materials, and plow fields.” We go on to learn about the Anatomy of a Horse, from its nose to its tail.

She then continues the journey by beginning to discuss Amerigo, the flying white horse of Sinterklaas, honored throughout the Netherlands and Belgium.

Again, many of these mythical creatures are familiar to people in the countries they represent rather than by worldwide knowledge, and yet there are those we have become familiar with through studies. One such creature is Centaurus, originally “centaurs had wings and scorpion tails and they were the protectors of Kur, the underworld. As time went on, centaurs evolved into the race of half-man, half-horse . . . who lived in tribes on Mount Pelion.”

Berkowitz goes on to provide details about equestrian sports, informing us of “three main disciplines . . . dressage, show jumping, and hunter trials.” She explains the importance of understanding horse behavior to succeed in equestrian sports.

Although it is fascinating to learn about the many varieties of mythical horses, it is still fun to read stories such as The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, in which Ichabod Crane and Brom Bones vie for the attention of Katrina Van Tassel—a story where a black horse plays an important role in the challenge the two men engage in.

We would be remiss if we did not consider the unicorn, “with its peaceful demeanor and magical spiral horn . . .” This creature is depicted with a horse’s body and a single horn growing from its forehead. And unlike many other creatures, the unicorn is thought of as being “benevolent and good hearted.” Anyone familiar with the Harry Potter stories will recognize its appearance in some of the books.

Horses even get into politics. The White Horse of Kent is a “. . . historical symbol associated with Kent, a county of England. It is also referred to as Invicta, a Latin word meaning “unconquerable.”

And moving back to America, horses played, and continue to play, a large role in the American West. Take Pecos Bill, for instance. Separated from his family and raised by wolves, he grew to be quite brave. His favorite horse was called “Widow-Maker” because it could make a widow out of any spouse who chose to ride it.

We should also consider the otherworldliness of the horse as we learn about the Zodiac Horse. In China, every year corresponds to an animal. “People born in the Year of the Horse are said to be, [among other things], agile and strong and a good work ethic. . . . They can also, however, be seen as self-centered and impulsive . . .”

It should be noted that the book is filled with black and white illustrations provided by Kate Forrester. Each one lovely, as depicted by the full-page illustration of Pegasus, “a winged stallion with an independent nature and a wild spirit.”

Berkowitz concludes, informing us that “Even in the earliest of civilizations, horses have been featured prominently in the myths, legends, and folklore of most, if not all, cultures.”

Fans of mythology will find The Little Encyclopedia of Mythical Horses clever and educational—a book to be read over and over again.