Celtic legend tells of the Kelpie, a Faerie spirit in the form of a white, silver, or black horse. It lived chiefly in lochs, lakes, rivers, and coves near or in the ocean. According common lore, this enchanting beast would lure a person onto its back. Once the rider was on the Kelpie, the Faerie's skin would turn adheisive, and the victim would be stuck into his mount. The Kelpie would then dash across the waves as if they were the fields of average stallions. Once the Kelpie and rider were far enough away from land, the Kelpie would dive under the sea, drowning and eating its victim. Other legends tell of the Kelpie as a prankster who would simply scare its victim silly, by merely dropping him into the ocean, a pool, or occaisionally a dung pile. Some even call it "benevolent" or "helpful". An example of this belief comes from the story of a Kelpie offering to free a water wheel that was stuck. The way to distinguish a Kelpie from a regular horse was to study its mane and tail. If it is a normal horse, it's hair would be dry and without weeds. If it were a Kelpie, however, it's hair would be soaking wet and weeds would be tangled throughout it. There is a way to tame a Kelpie. If one crafts a bridle of gold, and can successfully and properly place it on the Faerie, then it will be theirs forever. Kelpies naturally fear this bridle, however, so it is not an easy task catching one. Kelpies are some of the most lovely creatures in mythology; they need their charm to lure in their victims. If there were such a creature to exist in reality, it would surely be the horses of the Camargue.
