A kelpie is a shapeshifting water spirit from Scottish folklore, typically appearing as a horse to lure people, especially children, into deep water to drown them, but can also take human form.
Mythological Kelpie (Scottish Folklore)
- Nature: A malevolent water spirit inhabiting lochs and rivers, though rare tales mention helpful ones.
- Forms: Most commonly a horse (sometimes with seaweed in its mane or reversed hooves) or a beautiful person.
- Behaviour: Lures victims onto its back; once mounted, its skin becomes sticky, trapping the rider before it drags them underwater to devour them.
- Weakness: Its bridle; whoever controls the bridle gains control over the kelpie.
- Appearance: It most commonly appears as a magnificent horse, often grey or white, with a dripping mane. It can also take human form, though it may still retain its hooves.
- The Kelpies Sculptures: Two 30-meter-high steel horse-head sculptures, known as The Kelpies, are located in The Helix Park in Falkirk, Scotland, serving as a monument to horse-powered heritage.