Why do some statues of soldiers on horseback.......?

Question

.....have the horse with all four hooves on the ground, or one hoof lifted, or two front legs raised?

I have heard that it has something to do with how the soldier died, does anyone know the meaning behind this?

Answer 1

There really isn't any meaning to it. It's just the sculptor's choice.

Read this:

http://www.snopes2.com/military/statue.htm

Answer 2

Common folk wisdom claims that statues of mounted soldiers indicate the fate of the soldier by the placement of the hooves of the horse. According to this (generally false) tradition: all four hooves planted means the soldier did not die in battle, nor was he ever wounded. One hoof lifted means that the soldier was wounded in battle, but did not die from his wounds. Two legs lifted means that the soldier died in battle. Three of the four legs lifted probably indicates that the soldier died in a zombie battle, and came back to life. This tradition appears to have originated either based on statues scattered throughout London or on the battlefield of Gettysburg--however, there are as many exceptions to this rule as there are examples of it.

Answer 3

If a statue in the park of a person on a horse has both front legs in the air, the person died in battle.

If the horse has one front leg in the air, the person died as a result of wounds received in battle.

If the horse has all four legs on the ground, the person died of natural causes.

Interesting, huh? It's just a convention that most sculptors go by.

Answer 4

realy it is all about what is trying to be expressed in the statue.hoofs being raised or the front being raised off the ground can mean a warlike or heroic pose.all 4 on the ground can be somber or anything else.it is just like a painting the artist could be trying to express something or just capture a certain moment.it could mean how he died,lead a charge,save the day,or just about anything.

Answer 5

Yes. All 4 feet on the ground indicate he died of natural causes. 1 foot raised means he died from battle wounds & 2 feet off the ground means he was killed in battle.

Answer 6

Let me try: If the horse has two hooves off the ground, it's rider died in combat. If a horse has one hoove off the ground, it's rider died from wounds suffered in combat. If a horse has all hooves on the ground, it's rider died of natural causes.

Answer 7

First, the troops used donkeys, no longer horses and the overall public of infantrymen who used %. animals were particular ops. convinced the Marines nonetheless use bayonets yet certainly, if bayonet costs develop into that conventional, we are up a creek. by technique of ways, the bayonet value interior the Helmad provence became lead by technique of a Brit and the Falklands were a British protection stress action. Bayonets are used more effective as a device and by no ability as a weapon because techniques change by ability of the years. we want to concentration more effective on drones and intel collecting technologies somewhat than extreme close wrestle. i might want to somewhat scrap the bayonets and function infantrymen shoot by ability of drones miles faraway from an enemy. There might want to be a lot a lot less condolence letters written.

Answer 8

One leg rasied means the officer was wounded. Two legs raised means the officers was killed in battle.

Answer 9

It's more POWERFUL looking than a horse just standing still gazing into nowhere. Like a lion roaring vs a sleeping lion. Which one demonstrates strength and power?

Answer 10

I believe the below is correct:

All hooves on the ground - Did not die in battle

One leg up - injured in battle

Two legs up - died in battle