Horse

Horse Spiritual Meaning

Are you wondering what it means to see a certain colored horse? Are some horses good or bad luck? Does it mean anything if a horse crosses your path? What about dreaming of horses? How about the spiritual meaning of horseracing or jockeying? These days, many horse omens still exist.

Horses are beautiful, powerful spiritual symbols. It seems, however, that civilizations throughout human history have held many (and some crazy) beliefs about horses. There is nothing that prompts us more spiritually than understanding what symbols mean in our everyday lives. As literature and spiritual texts have become more widespread with the internet we can understand even more about the hidden secrets of the spiritual meaning of horses.

What are the ancient symbols of seeing a horse?

The notion of riding a horse to travel somewhere is something that we have observed for nearly 4,000 years. In Oxford, United Kingdom there are the most amazing texts from the middle ages which basically include a large amount of interesting medieval poetry dedicated to horses. From the long (and hard to read) poems clearly, horses have been used in many different ways for thousands of years. 

Horses had a profound impact on societies such as Rome, Greece and Egypt and these civilizations believed horses were spiritual signs of freedom and grace. Historians during the 1800s exposed the famous clay tablets (in what is presently known as Iraq) that further provided clues as to the importance of horses to the ancient civilizations of the Babylonians. Horses are important --if not the go to mode of transport.

Many stories are written in clay 2,000 years ago and highlight how horses were used for transportation and worship. What we need to know is that our ancient ancestors were touched by a passion for horses in these very early days. I've become a little more interested in how these cultures viewed the horse (especially as they invented the wheel, astrology and even our horoscope) but horses back in these days stood as a symbol of our wishes, and our inner ambitions and were associated with an icon of purity.

Is a horse a good or bad omen?

This is a good question. If you see a horse is it a good omen? When you search online about what horses symbolize you might come across an array of unnatural responses. From inner strength, power, and the freedom of protection through to death and destruction. We can learn numerous lessons about life from horses and this helps us connect with the spiritual world. In Mesopotamian ( 900 BC) elaborate rituals would be performed to protect horses. Including, the not-so-popular sacrifices of horse flesh to the gods and goddesses. 

The symbolic meanings for the horses are as follows:

  • Power.
  • Elegance.
  • Attractiveness.
  • Dignity.
  • Strength.
  • Independence.
  • Secrecy.
  • Decease in ownership.
  • Darkness.
  • Undisclosed secrets.
  • Messenger of mysterious familiarity.
  • Brightness.
  • Sun.
  • Day.
  • Strength.
  • Enlightenment.
  • Re-establishment.
  • Messenger of origin.
  • Birth.
  • Virginity.

Horse spiritual meaning and symbolism

Our perspective on the spiritual meaning of horses has been shaped by our history. Many people might immediately think of horses in the sense of strength and power, while for others, the almighty horse may represent freedom and beauty. Regardless of your cultural background, horses hold a special place in our hearts and souls. Let me dial back a bit, the sad thing is that at times horses were treated better than people. Especially, in the victorian era horses were fed and kept well -- while people lay in the streets dying of starvation. The Roman Theopharstus people believe that horses represented the free spirit, while the Chinese believed that the horse represents resilience and power.

The not-so-good account of history is the sacrifice of horse flesh. Back in the day, horses represented control, achievement, respect and power. In the fairy tales of the Greco and Romans, Horses are said to be shaped by Neptune and are dedicated to Pluto and Mars. The sad thing is that Romans would sacrifice a horse to their idol Mars in October and keep its tail throughout the wintry weather as a symbol of richness and new starts.

What does the horse mean in Hindu culture?

Well, there are a few accounts about horses written by the Hindu community. Horses in this culture are associated with Varuna. The horse is also connected to life in the universe. In addition, white horses are treated as the last living form of Vishnu. It is said that the Buddha left the world riding on a white horse. Moreover, in Buddhism, it is believed that a horse with wings carries a Book which is related to spiritual laws and is beautiful. 

What does the Horse Symbolize in Native America?

Horses have been part of Native American culture for thousands of years. Horses were used for mainly hunting and warfare. Horses held a great deal of spiritual significance for the Native Americans believing that horses are gifts from the Great Spirit. The Native Americans also felt that horses were blessings given to us from our ancestors, who had passed over. From what I have researched (in regard to the Native American culture) horses lived on the land before the settlers. This is different from the story of Columbus in 1492 when there were no horses in America.

For many years the Western world believed that horses were bought to America on boats, but the theory was debunked when horse skeletons were found on American soil in 1830.  A red Indian named Blue Horse was born in 1921, he was a warrior of the Chief red Indians. Historically, he was the son of Old Cheif Smoke. Blue Horse was seen as someone who rescued others and he was connected to rule but his Father burned his mother alive (yes, not a very nice story). The reason why I mention this story is that Blue horse was a term used in this culture to predict that someone will have the spiritual power to rule over others. 

What does a horse mean in Eastern symbolism?

The horse is also an important symbol in Eastern tradition. In China, the horse is seen as a sign of strength, power, and good fortune. I am sure you have heard of the Chinese horoscope, which is based on a twelve-year cycle and each year is represented by an animal. According to this calendar 2014 was the year of the horse. Therefore, if you were born in 1958, 1970, 1982, or 1994 you are classified as the year of the horse. The next birth year of the horse is 2026.  

If you have been fortunate to have been born in these years above it can mean you are a lively, independent, and charismatic person. Horses are often depicted in Japanese artwork as symbols of beauty and grace. Many Japanses hold a profound spiritual significance for horses. The Japanese believed that the horse was a divine spirit and celebrate a festival held in Kamigamo in Kyoto dedicated to the horse. Horses have been revered by Japanese people for their beauty, gracefulness, and power since ancient times, often appearing on bare horseback. 

What does the bible say about horses?

I do like to review what the bible states on symbols so this provides deeper meaning. While the Bible does not explicitly mention horses, there are a few passages that mention horses indirectly. The bible also speaks of horses in war operations in Isaiah 28:28 and in Job 39:19-25, where God asks Job whether horses have power or strength. It seems that horses are powerful creatures under the control of God in this passage. A vision of Jesus Christ riding on a white horse is described in Revelation 19:11-16. 

Some interpret this passage to mean that Jesus is coming as a conquering king, while I have read that some believe it symbolizes his purity and righteousness. It is without a doubt that horses have a deep spiritual meaning in the bible. Another interesting part of scripture is around kings creating a war army of horses. In the bible, there is much indirectly spoken about horses and from this I determine that the horse symbol is about our relationships / and or the connection with others. Spiritually, horses are seen in the bible as strength, especially when they are mentioned in Samuel 8:3 as two horses charging the chariot.

Another interesting part of the bible that I need to mention is the book of revelations in the New Testament. The four horsemen of the apocalypse include four horsemen that represent: Death, War, Conquest and Famine. In the other book of Ezekiel the story is slightly different and they signify Sword, Famine, Wild Beasts and Persistence. I will talk about these in a bit more detail.

There are tons of films featuring the four famous horsemen from the bible. I was curious to understand how this can be symbolic to our lives. One of the more scary parts of the book of Revelation is the four horses and the fact that there are these types of characteristics in our lives. The four men on these horses denote that we can sometimes bring about the most disaster in life. Traditionally, the four horsemen represented different aspects of the end of the world. 

The first horseman rides a white horse holding a bow and crown that is associated with peace, many people have actually believed it was Jesus himself riding the horse. The bow represents that he can be violent, and rage war on others. The second horseman rides a red horse and this is connected to the sword and signifies bloodshed. The third horseman carries a balance scale representing famine in life. And finally, the fifth horseman is on a light-coloured horse and is associated with death. What does this mean for you? It can indicate if you see any of these horse colors: Red, Black, White, or Pale horses it can mean the following:

  • Red horse (I don't think I have ever seen one) maybe this means chestnut indicates love and hurt
  • Black horse can signify conflict
  • White horse represents peace
  • Pale horse can suggest watch your money.

What is the African symbolism of a horse?

The first horse was introduced to Egypt in around 1600 BC and then from there probably was taken to Africa, there are some interesting pictures in the Saharan Rock of chariots that are in Algeria and Libya. The horse pictures on the rock show that horses have been used for transport for 4,000 years. 

In Africa, horses are associated with both the sun and fire and are used in tribal ceremonies as a sign of freedom. Horses are considered to be powerful spiritual animals in many African cultures. In some parts of Africa, horses are also associated with rain, fertility, and abundance.

What do horse encounters and omens mean?

Horse encounters and omens can have a variety of different meanings depending on the culture you come from. I am going to go over some interesting horse omens that have been with us throughout time, I will say I don’t know for sure if to believe these but feel that I do need to include them.

In the 1930s many houses were insulated with horse hair (I found some myself when I was putting up a shelf on a wall in my 1930’s UK home I panicked as I thought it was a dead body!) horsehair was lucky during this time. 

  • A horse walking into a house is not a lucky omen.
  • A black horse is an omen of death.
  • A white horse is a sign of good luck.
  • A race horse is a sign of abundance.
  • A chestnut horse is a sign of success.
  •  A grey horse is a sign of prosperity.
  • A horse cat crossing your path will bring you a new friend.
  • If you tread in horse poop it's good luck.
  • A horse shoe is considered lucky.
  • Seeing a white horse will give you pleasure in life.
  • If you spill salt, you'll have bad luck.
  • Knocking on wood will prevent bad luck.
  • Do not rename your horse as it will be bad luck.
  • For those that own horses a green hanky in the pocket brings luck at the racing (this might not be true!)
  • Seeing two gray horses is lucky.
  • Hang a horseshoe over the door is said to bring good luck to the household.
  • To nail the horse shoe to the wall will keep evil spirits away.
  • Giving the horseshoe as a gift: Giving a horseshoe as a gift is said to be a lucky omen.

The spiritual meaning of colors of horses?

When a horse appears in your path in life it feels good to know what the spiritual color means. The thing to remember about the horse symbol is that it probably represents aspects of your life. If you have suddenly seen a horse this can reflect your inner life, especially if you take note of the colors.

Colors of the Horse have a range of symbolic meanings.  The black horse is often regarded as a symbol of endings, authority and power. I am afraid (don't freak out) horses are also associated with death and the underworld in many cultures. The mysterious and secretive nature of black horses is often attributed to them. 

On a more positive front, the Greeks also believed that chestnut horses could bring good luck and they often used them in ceremonies and rituals. White horses are often seen as symbols of purity and innocence. In many cultures, they are also associated with both the sun and the sky. In some parts of the world, it is believed that seeing white horses will bring you great luck and part of your personality. 

Stability and strength are often associated with brown horses. The earth and nature are also associated with them in many cultures. It is often believed that brown horses are very reliable and trustworthy. Did you know seeing two gray horses indicates luck in life? Gray horses are often seen as symbols of enlightenment and understanding others. Moons and stars are also associated with them in many cultures. There is a perception that gray horses are calm and serene. 

What does a dream meaning of a horse mean?

I have spoken about the dreams of horses in my dream dictionary, however, Carl Jung believed Horses in dreams symbolize the spontaneous characteristic of human personality, and also considered this a symbol of the human body in convinced thoughts. The older dream dictionaries from the 1930's state the following:

  • To see yourself riding on a Horse in dreams indicates that you will face a mission or incident with a victorious ending.
  • Falling off a Horse in a dream is believed that you’re anxious about a mission or are nervous about a result you have faced.
  • Dreaming of a Horse cart, fixed with chains, indicates that you are feeling restricted and want more independence in your life.
  • If you see a bucking Horse in your dreams, it indicates that you need to overcome your old behavior.

What do horse tattoos mean?

Horse tattoos can have a variety of different meanings, it is my view, a horse tattoo indicates; resilience, happiness, gain, control and power. In others, they are seen as symbols of liberty and magnificence. 

People who love freedom and their wild spirit will benefit from the flying horse tattoo, if they wish to have a tattoo in the first place. This tattoo can be used to represent both the strength and attractiveness of horses or the grace and beauty of these magnificent creatures. Most people who have horse tattoos do this for luck or they have a horse in real life that they wish to keep close to them. I want to touch on the ancient meaning of the flying horse / or winged horse: Pegasus was a winged horse from Greek mythology. He was Poseidon's son and Medusa's daughter, meaning spiritual freedom.

The strong connection between horses and Celtic culture means the wonderful Celtic horse tattoo is a popular choice. In addition to being a symbol of resilience and force, Celtic patterned horses can also be a symbol of grace and beauty. I have seen many women and men wearing beautiful tribal horse tattoos. Flaming horse tattoos can be interpreted as a sign of passion and strength. Because the horse is associated both with strength and power as well as grace, the fire shows real passion, this is why they are so popular. 

Do horseshoes bring good luck?

Horseshoes are said to bring good luck because they are made of iron. Iron is seen as spiritual protection against evil. I always have iron outside my home as spiritual protection. It is important to know that it is lucky to hang a horseshoe outside your home. Negative energy is reportedly removed by iron. Horseshoes are also believed to protect against evil spirits in some parts of the world. When I asked my tattoo expert about the meaning of the horse tattoo, it means bravery and nobility. If you are considering a horse tattoo then remember that the design needs to be something you are comfortable with. They can be worn as a symbol of how free you feel and that you have hidden grace. Horse tattoos can be full-body or even smaller tattoos, black, grey, in colour and range in size. 

What did the horse symbolize to Roman times?

Horses were considered sacred animals by the Romans, and they often associate them with gods. In Roman mythology, there are many stories about gods and goddesses who rode horses or had wings like horses. Horses were also believed to bring good luck by the Romans, and they were often used in ceremonies and rituals. 

How were horses used in ancient wars?

Horses were often used in ancient wars as a means of transportation. They were also used to help carry supplies and equipment. In some cultures, horses were even used in battle. Therefore, the symbol of a horse is a battle or overcoming conflict. By the end of world war two, we stopped using horses. A cavalry was replaced by tanks.

Many old paintings of wars show how horses were used to charge, raid and communicate with the enemy. Horses were in my research used in many cultures throughout the world. For example, the muslim warriors often used (and relied on) on horses for warfare in Asia, Europe and Africa.

Horses used in war were called Battle carvary and this was phased out in favor of tank war. Even though horses were not used so much in battle they use to help patrol areas or transport goods. Today, horses are not really seen in warfare. I remember visiting Buckingham Palace and seeing the royal horses protecting the gates. Horses therefore from a symbolic viewpoint can be sources of protection. 

How were horses used in Babylonia?

Horses were used in Babylonia for transportation and labor. They were also used in ceremonies and rituals. In some parts of Babylonia, horses were even considered to be sacred animals. No matter what your personal beliefs may be, there is no doubt that horses have a deep spiritual meaning for many people around the world - and from a long time ago! 

Conclusion

The spiritual power of horses is something I absolutely believe in.

The beauty, gracefulness, and power of horses have been revered by humans since ancient times. Horses have a deep spiritual meaning for many people around the world, regardless of their culture. Plus, as you can see from all my research in this article horses have so much symbolism and we can use this to formulate what the horse means to us.

A Horse shows up as a spirit guide when

  • You need to be courageous.
  • You need to be stable in your life.
  • You need freedom.
  • You need strength.
  • You need to cope under difficult circumstances.

Call on a Horse as a spirit guide when

  • You need to have safe movements.
  • You need a guardian for traveling.
  • You need your personal power.
  • You need your journey to be faster and more joyful.
  • You need love and devotion.

By Flo Saul
Mar 2, 2013