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Kelpie
A shape-shifting horse like water spirit said to haunt the rivers and streams of Scotland. Kelpies are said to have backward hooves and could change between horse and water. It is said that the horse would mate with a mortal horse and it's off spring would have golden wishing hooves. However when you approached the offspring it would suck you in and drowned you in the nearest body of water. Also said to help water mils and dispose of trash in the sea. Kelpies may hate humans for ruining there home. It is said that one who mentions Christs name after being trapped will be thrown off the horse.The "Kelpie" was also known to lure humans, especially children into the water to kill and eat them. It usually does this by encouraging children to ride on its back, where its skin becomes sticky almost adhesive and it then drags them to the bottom of the water and devours them - except the heart or liver. A common Scottish tale is the story of nine children lured onto a Kelpie's back, while a tenth keeps his distance. The Kelpie chases him and tries to catch him, but he escapes. A variation on this is that the tenth child simply strokes the Kelpie's nose, but when his finger becomes stuck to it he takes a knife from his pocket and cuts his own finger off. He saves himself, but is unable to help his friends as they are pulled underwater with the Kelpie. Commonly known as spirits of the dead, Kelpies are not benevolent creatures and some folklore even says that they will not come unless called/summoned or to eat.
*There was one way in which a Kelpie could be defeated and tamed; the Kelpies power of shape shifting was said to reside in its bridle, and anybody who could claim possession of it could force the Kelpie to submit to their will. A Kelpie in subjugation was highly prized, it had the strength of at least 10 horses and the endurance of many more, but the fairy races were always dangerous captives especially those as malignant as the Kelpie. It was said that the MacGregor clan were in possession of a Kelpies bridle, passed down through the generations from when one of their clan managed to save himself from a Kelpie near Loch Slochd.*
Also, in some modern books Kelpies are referenced. Like in Holly Blacks' books Tithe, Valiant, and Ironside, the Kelpie was a water horse that would grant you a boon/wish for something in return.
*Some information used from: http://www.mysteriousbritain.co.uk/folklore/scots_folk/kelpie.html
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Keyword tags:
Celtic
folklore
kelpie
water spirit horse irish
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Thread started: Dec 24 2009, 7:17 PM EST
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