In 1984, horses began prancing their way into LEGO sets, and they’d eventually become a part of many themes, including Castle, Western, Paradisa, Friends, Harry Potter, Scala, Belville, and Elves.
Fulcrum Attachment in the Shape of a Horse
This bronze horse head once decorated the fulcrum, or armrest, of a kline, a luxurious banqueting couch. At a symposium in someone’s private home, where men gathered to enjoy fine food, conversation, and other entertainments, a series of such couches were arranged around the center of the room for easy interaction. Added pillows and bolsters made the kline quite comfortable. Usually the kline had a fulcrum on the left side so that a right-handed, reclining banqueter could lean on his left arm, leaving his right hand free for eating and drinking.1
Bronze fulcrum decorations came into fashion by the later second century B.C., and are represented among the finds of the Mahdia shipwreck that date to 100 B.C.2 They continued in use at least through the second century A.D. Subjects include horses, mules, mastiffs, ducks or geese, panthers, lions, and elephants, with members of the equine family being most prevalent. There are at least three examples close in style to the Shumei horse head, all dated to the later second and early first centuries B.C.3
Mules were sacred to the god of wine, Dionysos, and outnumber horses in this type of object, but the Shumei beast is a horse. His intact right ear is relatively small and delicate; a mule’s would be twice the size. His long, ropy mane is that of a horse, albeit a very unkempt one; mules have naturally short, scruffy manes.
The Shumei horse’s jaw is slack and his eyes unfocused. His ears, which flop in different directions, show anything but alertness. A horse, like a mule, can easily drink three gallons of liquid at one time, and this creature seems to have consumed his entirely in wine. Around the neck is what remains of a panther skin, suggesting that the beast did his drinking in the company of Dionysos, whose followers often wore this garment.
APK
1. For an example of a bed with two fulcra and an excellent discussion and bibliography of the type see Reeder 1988, pp. 159-61, no. 68, dated 100-50 B.C. These attachments have been studied by Sabina Faust; see Faust 1989.
2. Fuchs 1963, pp. 11-12.
3. Barr-Sharrar 1987, pl. 16, no. C51; pl. 19, no. C57; pl. 20, no. C59, 2.
Catalogue Entry(Bac#024)
2nd-1st century B.C.
Bronze
H. 20.0 cm, W. 8.2 cm, Depth 16.0 cm
This horse forequarters is thought to have originally been used as an ornament on a Greek banqueting couch. Relief carvings in the Assyrian palace show that in the western Asia the king had the special privilege of being seated on a banqueting couch at banquets, and this was a favorite custom amongst the Greek aristocracy. This banquet event was known as symposium, and those who attended these banquets would be adorned with floral crowns, would begin the event with libation wine and prayers, and then would lie back on these couches as they enjoyed philosophical discussions and other pastimes. Normally guests would recline on cushions on these couches and if the guest was right handed, they would lean on their left arm and use their right hand for drinking. The raised backs of these couches would have an extended S-shaped decoration, and frequently the top of this S-shape would be fitted with a horse or other animal head.
The mane of this horse is disheveled, the eyes bulging and the ears facing in different directions. This would appear to be a depiction of a drunken horse, and given that the followers of Dionysus would often drape such horses with a panther skin, we can see that this motif was linked to the god of wine, Dionysus.
The Classics
Ah, the classic horse of many an AFOLs’ youth (part number 4493c01pb01, pb02, and so on.) Produced between 1984 and 2012, there are at least 11 variations of this particular critter. You can find it in black, brown, white, and gray with spots. Some, like the black horse above, even have fancy printing on their sides.
Notice the differences in the eyes of the three horses in the photo above. The horse in the back (4493c01pb02) has white eyes with a central black pupil, the white horse (4493c01pb04) has black eyes with a white gleam, and the horse in the front (4493c01pb06) has eyes that peer forward.
Other variations among these classic horses may include mane colors and bridle colors. Two things they all have in common, though: they have moveable necks and a 1×2 opening in their backs, which can accommodate a saddle (part 4491a or 4491b), barding (part 2490 and its variations), a hitching piece (part 2397/4587), a 1×2 brick and 1×2 plate or tile, OR a minifig.
In 2012, the classic LEGO horse got an upgrade. This “new classic” (10352c01pb01, pb02, and so on) has more realistic curves and can move both its neck and back legs, allowing it to rear, leap over fences, and get up to all sorts of horsey shenanigans.
This type of horse currently comes in black, white, brown, and tan — and there are several variations among bridle colors as well. One white horse of this type with an ornately-printed bridle (part 10352c01pb5) has thus far appeared in only one set –Winter Village Market from 2013.
Friends-Style
2012 was a big year for LEGO horses. In addition to the upgrade of the classic horses, the advent of the LEGO Friends theme brought Friends-style horses to the masses.
Friends-style horses differ from classic LEGO horses in several ways:
- They’re more rounded/curvy.
- They have tiny holes in their tails and manes so they can be adorned with bows, flowers, ribbons, and other decor.
- They carry different-sized saddles (part 93086) than the classic horses, and have a 2×2 opening in their back, rather than a 1×2.
- Friends-style horses released between 2012 and 2020 (part 93083c01pb) had no moveable parts. In 2021, Friends-style horses (76950c01pb) were updated and given moveable necks and bendy tails.
Friends-style horses can be found in multiple colors, including white, medium nougat, bright light orange, dark orange, reddish brown, and black. Their manes and tails come in over a dozen colors, including magenta, silver, lavender, and gold.
Pegasi
The noble winged horse of Greek mythology, the Pegasus, has appeared in several forms across LEGO sets in recent years. Most frequently seen in the Elves theme with a Friends-style horse body, variations include a light orange pegasus with magenta wings (Azari & The Goblin Escape – 41186), a white one with a gold mane, tail, and wings (Skyra’s Mysterious Sky Castle – 41078), and a pair of white pegasi with violet manes and tails and silver wings (Aira’s Pegasus Sleigh – 41077). These last two are nearly identical, save for the printing on their faces and the color of their eyes.
Two white horses of the “new classic” style appeared in the Harry Potter set Beauxbatons’ Carriage: Arrival At Hogwarts (75958). They are white with brown bridles and white wings. On all LEGO pegasi, the wings are detachable.
