The Ceffyl Dŵr, also known as the water horse, is a mythical creature deeply rooted in Welsh folklore. It is often likened to the Scottish kelpie, the Irish púca, the Irish and Scottish each uisge, and the Manx glaistyn. This spirit creature is said to inhabit mountain pools and waterfalls, although it has also been known to frequent rivers and seashores.
Legend has it that the Ceffyl Dŵr assumes the form of a horse, usually grey or black with a white mane, and sometimes glowing or winged, to lure unsuspecting travelers into riding it. Once mounted, it either carries its rider great distances at high speed, flies into the sky, then evaporates into air or mist, leaving the unfortunate rider to plunge to their death.
Interestingly, the Ceffyl Dŵr could be captured and put to work, but it was always destined to escape eventually, dragging its captor to their death.
Variations in Temperament
The temperament of the Ceffyl Dŵr differed depending on the region. In North Wales, it was generally seen as malevolent, often described with fiery eyes and a dark, forbidding presence. In South Wales, the creature was seen more positively as, at worst, a nuisance to travelers, and at best a great aid to tired travelers and often luminescent.
The Ceffyl Dŵr of the River Honddu was particularly notorious. One tale recounts how it carried a weary man from an ancient Roman camp near the town of Brecon to the banks of the Towy, and three days later, returned him in worse condition – having been dragged through mire, water, brambles, and briars.
The Shape-shifting Water Horse
In some regions, the Ceffyl Dŵr was believed to have shape-shifting capabilities, allowing it to transform into other animals. Sometimes it took the form of a goat and charged at people with enough force to cause serious injury. In the Vale of Clwyd, a Ceffyl Dŵr often turned into a frog, which hopped on people’s backs and choked them.
Despite its association with rivers and waterfalls, the Ceffyl Dŵr was often seen on seashores, where it was described as either dapple-grey or sand-like in color and could be recognized by its hooves being turned the wrong way.
Folktales of the Ceffyl Dŵr
Welsh folklore is rich with tales of the Ceffyl Dŵr. One story tells of a man who rode a water horse that emerged from a waterfall, and was amazed to find that it travelled at the speed of lightning. Another tells of a miniature Ceffyl Dŵr that aids the protagonist in the story of Arawn, carrying him through the air across a vast distance before vanishing.
In one tale from the early 19th century, an old man encounters a glowing, small horse ridden by a long-legged rider. Despite his efforts to overtake it, the man couldn’t. By the time he reached the Old Mill, the horse and rider had disappeared into the darkness. When the valley was flooded at midnight, the man credited his escape to the Ceffyl Dŵr, who had enticed him to walk faster.
These tales, among others, paint a fascinating picture of the Ceffyl Dŵr – a creature that embodies both the beauty and danger of the Welsh landscape, and continues to be a significant part of the country’s rich folklore.