Appearance and Signs

The Hollow Mare is a pale horse that appears in low meadows at dawn and at dusk. Her coat is like moonlight and she leaves a ring of pale grass where she stands. Herders and walkers report a sense of quiet and of time slowing when she is near.

Behavior of The Hollow Mare

She moves with a slow steady gait and does not allow close approach. Those who try to mount or to catch her find the ground soft and the footing uncertain. The mare seems tied to places where water gathers and where the earth is thin.

Tales and Warnings of The Hollow Mare

Tales warn against taking from meadows where the Hollow Mare grazes and advise leaving the grass to rest. The mare is a reminder that some places need time to recover and to be left alone.

Modern Meaning of The Hollow Mare

For many the Hollow Mare is a symbol of rest and of the need to protect fragile places. Conservation groups sometimes use the image to teach about wetland care and about the limits of use.

Other Ohio Folk Tales

The Salt Mare | The Marsh Lurker | The Deep Stag | The Reed Witch