It's a common misconception that kelpies are always horses. They're not always a big, black stallion with gleaming eyes, flames dripping liquid from cannon and postern, daring the foolish human to climb upon his rippling back. Those are the show-offs. Those are the ones who predate on the type of over-confident young buck who fancies himself a great horseman. Those are the ones people want to write about.
It's the glamour of them.
Kelpies can be any animal that looks like it might founder in a murky pool or fast-flowing river. Anything that might induce an unwary, sympathetic soul to attempt a rescue. Cows. Bullocks. Sheep. Goats.
Deer.
At about 20s you can see where it puts its legs back on. I was standing next to a line of hoofprints leading down into the sea. I regret not checking to see if the hoofprints leaving the sea were less deep.
It would have been too late to do anything, of course.
Sam
