HAPPY EASTER MONDAY - and another Welsh legend, the Welsh Water Horse

Hello dear readers, I hope you had a lovely Easter and enjoy Easter Monday too!

Only another fourteen days until the release of The Matchmaker's Mare, I'm so excited! It's available now for pre-release on Amazon (and the paperback is reduced at the moment)

After the tale of Rhiannon, the goddess of the horse, which I told you about a few weeks ago, I thought I'd mention another of the mythical creatures of Wales, the Ceffyl Dŵr, literally translated into English this means the 'Water Horse'.

It is most commonly considered a counterpart to the Scotish Kelpie, but has also been compared to the  the Irish puca. The ceffyl Dŵr appears as a white or grey horse, or sometimes black, with a white mane and tail, sometimes glowing or wings. It is said to inhabit mostly mountain pools and waterfalls, although it has been known to frequent rivers and the sea as well. 

Depending on which region of Wales mentions the stories, the Ceffyl Dŵr was believed to shapeshift, as well as having the power of flight. For example, in North Wales, it is represented as being rather formidable with fiery eyes and a dark foreboding presence, whereas in South Wales is seen as merely mischievous. She also is known to walk on her hind legs and disappear down the well in the graveyard of St Illtyds church in Oxwich Bay, or to simply evaporate into the sea mist. Over the centuries there have been many sightings of Ceffyl Dwr mostly around St Illtyds church.

Although it appears solid, it can evaporate into a mist. In one legend the Ceffyl Dŵr leaps out of the water to trample and kill lone travellers. In another legend, the Ceffyl Dŵr rises from the sea and entices the unwary traveler to ride her, then takes to the  air, and evaporates, and the unfortunate rider falls to his death.

Hmm, rather glad not to have met any horses quite like that, in real life!