In Scottish folklore, the water spirit that often appears as a horse and lures people into the water is the kelpie.
A kelpie is a shape-shifting spirit associated with Scotland’s lochs, rivers, streams, and other bodies of water. It commonly appears as a beautiful or powerful horse, sometimes black, grey, or white. A traveller who climbs onto its back may find that the creature carries them into deep water, where they drown or are devoured.
Many stories give the kelpie magical adhesive power: a rider’s hands can become stuck to its coat, making escape impossible. Other traditions say the creature can assume human form or retain telltale horse hooves. These cautionary tales likely helped warn children away from dangerous water and travelers away from unfamiliar animals or strangers.
The kelpie is sometimes confused with the each-uisge, another Scottish water horse often linked particularly to lochs. Folklorists have debated whether the terms should be strictly distinguished, and English retellings frequently blend them. Even so, “kelpie” is the standard answer to this description; a selkie is instead a being that changes between human and seal forms.