This particular volume, Horse Tails, is a collection of folk and fairy tales from around the world where horses take centre stage. Aside from the obvious admiration many of us feel for these majestic creatures, I found that there are so many good reasons to bring these horse-centred stories together.
Horses hold a special place in the stories of countless cultures. They’ve been companions in peace, partners in war, symbols of beauty, freedom, strength, and sometimes magic. Including them in folklore makes the stories feel familiar and emotionally rich, no matter where they come from.
As you might expect, horses in these tales are often noble, brave, and loyal, sometimes mysterious, even divine. But there are also darker, more complex stories, as no folk tradition is complete without a shadow or two. Together, they reflect the deep and varied relationships humans have had with horses through time.
Many of these stories carry moral lessons, teaching us about courage, trust, wisdom, and endurance through the adventures and trials their horse-heroes face. Like all good fairy tales, they invite us into enchanted worlds where animals speak, stars fall, and the right kind of kindness can break a curse.
And perhaps most beautifully, these tales are part of the great oral tradition that lives within every culture. By sharing them, we keep alive not just the stories, but also the values, beliefs, and dreams of the people who first told them.