Anyone know the significance of the horse's raised legs on a statue of a soldier and his horse?

Question

I once read that one leg raised meant something; two something else - I think it had to do with how the soldier died. Just curious, but it's been driving me nuts!!

Answer 1

This is simply an "urban legend".

The supposed significance is that if the horse has one hoof raised, the soldier was wounded in battle. If two hooves are raised, the soldier was killed. If the horse is on all fours, the soldier wasn't a casualty of war.

This is mostly accurate for soldiers (and the monuments erected in their honor) from Gettysburg, although it's not a consistent rule.

Also, If you take a drive or walk (or whatever) through Washington D.C., (I live an hour away) you will find many monuments and statues depicting rider and horse which do not fit the "code"- here are two examples of rather famous men:

LT. GEN. THOMAS J. (STONEWALL) JACKSON: This monument depicts all the horses hooves on the ground; however Jackson was killed in battle (by his own men!)

LT. GEN. GEORGE WASHINGTON:(there are two, one is located at Washington Circle, at 23rd and K and Pennsylvania and New Hampshire NW) Here his horse has one hoof raised, but Washington passed from cynache trachealis. Also, his statue at Washington Cathedral depicts the horse with one hoof raised.

The horse thing is entirely up to the artist.

Answer 2

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Anyone know the significance of the horse's raised legs on a statue of a soldier and his horse?
I once read that one leg raised meant something; two something else - I think it had to do with how the soldier died. Just curious, but it's been driving me nuts!!

Answer 3

Horse With Two Legs

Answer 4

as an art history major, i would suggest that this myth has nothing to do with the reasons as to why horse's legs were raised in statues of antiquity up until the end of the renaissance.

horses' legs were raised so they would look as though they were running. the sense of motion was important in such monuments. it made the figure appear more heroic, and thus glorified the figure on the horse. mostly, figures on horses were great leaders and not ordinary soldiers.

Answer 5

Actually, the number of legs raised from the ground signifies nothing at all ...except maybe what the sculptor wanted the statue to look like!

This is just one of those urban myths that get passed around and become "true" simply because its repeated so often...in fact, there are many equestrian statues of soldiers who died in battle or were injured, whose horses have all four feet on the ground!

Answer 6

i have an idea about what you are asking... but am not 100% sure... if the horse is on 2 legs (2 legs raised) that means that the soldier died in the battle/war... if the horse is on 3 legs (1 leg raised) that means that the soldier died because of the wounds in the battle/war... and if the horse is on all 4 legs (no leg raised) that means the soldier died of natural causes :)

Answer 7

Apparently it's an urban legend. There are some instances, in Germany for example, where only Monarchy are shown sitting on horses. Military personnel and scientists are bronzed in a standing or sitting position (without a horse).

Answer 8

significance horseraised legs statue soldier horse

Answer 9

A horse rearing up means that the rider died in battle, one leg up means the rider died of battle wounds, but not in the field, a horse standing means the rider died of natural causes.

Answer 10

1 leg up symbolise radiness to charge, it means the horse & rider is the lead in battle. fearless & courage & hopefully victory is probably what the sculptor is trying to portray.