Fairy riding (Scottish Gaelic: marcachd shìth/a' mharcachd-shìth/na marcachd-shìth) was a term used for a kind of paralysis found in livestock in Scotland. It occurred in the spine of sheep, cows and horses, and was attributed to fairies riding on them.
It was also in some places where perspiration, due to weakness which comes out in cattle.
It can be compared to elf-shot, where it was thought that animals had been shot by fairies.
Famous quotes containing the words fairy and/or riding:
“Every time a child says “I don’t believe in fairies” there is a fairy somewhere that falls down dead.”
—J.M. (James Matthew)
“Whenever the moon and stars are set,
Whenever the wind is high,
All night long in the dark and wet,
A man goes riding by.”
—Robert Louis Stevenson (1850–1894)