Horse in a dream: meaning in Ibn Sirin, al-Nabulsi and Ibn Shahin

314 passages from 6 sources, quoted as written, every one linked to its page.

Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulsi, Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam

The discussion of them has already been given under the letter khā', in the entry on horses.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 267

Ibn Shahin al-Zahiri, al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat

Daniel said: Arabian horses are interpreted as might, honour, and dominion.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 198

good will come to him from speech

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 199

Whoever sees a defect in something of the gear of his mount, then it is a diminishment of his honour to that extent.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 198

And whoever sees that he sold his horse, then it is interpreted as his leaving his employment or whatever he is engaged in, by his own choice.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 199

Whoever sees that the tail of his horse has grown long and its hair has become abundant, then it is interpreted as an increase in retainers and servants to that extent.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 198

And whoever sees that he slaughtered his horse and does not wish to eat any of its meat, then his authority and his livelihood will be ruined for him.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 199

attributed to Ibn Sirin, Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam

Whoever rides a horse with a white blaze and white-stockinged legs, with all its gear, and he is wearing the garb of horsemen, then he will attain authority, might, fine praise, a pleasant life, and safety from enemies.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 329–335

The bay is stronger for combat and greater; the dun signifies honour and illness.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 329–335

Whoever rides a horse and spurs it on until it drips with sweat, that is an overpowering passion that he follows, and a disobedience in which he spends—because of the sweat.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 329–335

We said that sweat during the galloping is expenditure in disobedience only because of His saying, exalted be He: "Do not flee, but return to that in which you were given luxury."

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 329–335

The horse, for whoever sees it from afar, is glad tidings and good, because of his saying (peace be upon him): "Horses—good is tied to their forelocks until the Day of Resurrection."

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 329–335

If he sees himself as though leading a horse, then he is seeking the service of a noble man.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 329–335

Freud and Jung, a separate view

This was the means used by one who was troubled by a painful perineal abscess. He dreamt that he was on horseback, and made use of the poultice, which was intended to alleviate his pain, as a saddle, and thus got away from the cause of the trouble.

Sigmund Freud, The Interpretation of Dreams / On Dreams / Dream Psychology, On Dreams

Their universal peculiarity is that they ride upon their victims. Their counterparts are the spectral horses which bear their riders along in a mad gallop

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. V Symbolism of the Mother and of Rebirth

Then again it is the horses of Neptune which symbolize the waves of the sea.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. V Symbolism of the Mother and of Rebirth

We already have seen that the symbolization of “the libido in resistance” through the “terrible mother” in some places runs parallel with the horse.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. VI The Battle for Deliverance from the Mother

Thus the horse’s foot is the dispenser of fruitful moisture.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. VI The Battle for Deliverance from the Mother

The horse undoubtedly here stands for a time symbol, and also for the entire world.

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. VI The Battle for Deliverance from the Mother

The horse is also a “tree of death”; thus in the Middle Ages the funeral pyre was called St. Michael’s horse, and the neo-Persian word for coffin means “wooden horse.”

Carl Jung, Psychology of the Unconscious (1916) / Collected Papers (1917), Psychology of the Unconscious, ch. VI The Battle for Deliverance from the Mother

Kinds and conditions of Horse

horses

Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulsi, Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam

Among their names are al-jiyad (steeds), the singular of which is jawad, and faras (mare/horse), hisan (stallion), muhr (colt), and among them are al-ikdish (the crossbred nag), al-birdhawn (the packhorse), and al-hijrah (the mare).

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 96–98

So whoever sees that he has horses in a dream, this indicates the expansion of his provision and his victory over his enemies.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, pp. 96–98

packhorse (non-Arabian horse)

Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulsi, Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam

In a dream it is the person's good fortune and his striving; and the larger the packhorses are, the better they are with regard to worldly affairs.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 37

And it is said the packhorse is the woman. So whoever sees that he is struggling with a packhorse and is unable to hold it, then his wife will be unruly.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 37

horse (stallion)

attributed to Ibn Sirin, Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam

The horse — the stallion — is authority and might. So whoever sees that he is upon a docile horse, moving gently, and the horse's gear is complete, he attains might, authority, honour and wealth in proportion to that horse.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 323–328

And whoever tethers a horse for himself or owns it, he attains something like that; and whatever is lacking from its gear, that much is lacking from that honour and authority.

Muntakhab al-Kalam fi Tafsir al-Ahlam, pp. 323–328

piebald horse

Ibn Shahin al-Zahiri, al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat

As for the piebald: al-Kirmani said it is interpreted as fame. So whoever sees that he is riding a piebald horse, then it is interpreted as his fame among people; so let him rely upon what he saw of good and evil and measure the fame accordingly.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 200

And whoever sees a piebald horse, but it is blaze-faced and white-stockinged, and he intends to ride it, then it is interpreted as a great man whose affair is ridden by his ruler; and if he rides it, this is lighter.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 200

black horse

Ibn Shahin al-Zahiri, al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat

As for the black one, it indicates the obtaining of wealth, might, and high standing, along with negligence in his occupation.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 200

Abu Sa'id al-Wa'iz said: Riding a jet-black horse is interpreted as travel, sovereignty, and attaining might in that journey.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 200

horse dung

Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulsi, Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam

In a dream it is the wealth of a noble man.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 131

So whoever sees that he is sweeping it up will obtain wealth from a noble man.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 131

red (chestnut) horse

Ibn Shahin al-Zahiri, al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat

As for the red one, it is strength, joy, and prestige from a ruler.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 200

Abu Sa'id al-Wa'iz said: the red one is interpreted as glory and an increase in blessing, especially if it is of a burnt (deep fiery) red.)

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 200

horse riding

Artemidorus of Daldis, Oneirocritica (1644 English translation)

to ride a horse nimbly is good for all, for thy horse signifyes a woman, or a friend, the ship, the Master and guide to governe, and the good friend. So then, as a man findes his horse well, so shall he do all this.

Oneirocritica (1644 English translation), The first Booke of Artimedorus His Exposition of Dreames.

To ride a horse through the town, is good for him which undertakes to play a prize, and to a sick man: for the one shall gaine the prize, and the other shall be •• aled: but to ride out of town is quite contrary:

Oneirocritica (1644 English translation), The first Booke of Artimedorus His Exposition of Dreames.

sorrel horse

Ibn Shahin al-Zahiri, al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat

As for the sorrel horse, it indicates soundness of religion and honour from the sultans.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 200

Al-Kirmani said: The dream of riding a sorrel horse is interpreted as some distress amid one's honour and nobility, and perhaps it is an honour marred by trouble.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 200

yellow horse

Ibn Shahin al-Zahiri, al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat

As for the yellow one, then a little of illness will befall him.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 200

Al-Kirmani said: seeing oneself riding a yellow horse, if it is a mare, is interpreted as his union with a woman who has sorrows and pains.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, p. 200

riding a tall horse wearing a robe of honor

Ibn Shahin al-Zahiri, al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat

An anecdote: It is related that a man came to Shaykh Muhammad al-Qar'uni and said to him: It was as though I saw the amir so-and-so riding upon a tall horse, and he was wearing a robe of honor, with the people around him. He said: If your dream is true, this man will assume an office before long. So he assumed the command of the Hajj caravan.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 269–270

An anecdote: One of the righteous men saw al-Maqarr al-Kamali wearing a noble robe of honor, and at that time he was without his office. Then its author saw that he himself was wearing a robe of honor, and al-Maqarr al-Kamali entered from the street of the city. The one who saw the dream informed him of it, and after a short while the chief judge of Damascus the Protected died, and the author of this work assumed the noble viceroyalty of the sultanate at al-Karak the Protected.

al-Isharat fi Ilm al-Ibarat, pp. 269–270

bay horse (kumayt)

Abd al-Ghani al-Nabulsi, Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam

Among horses, it in a dream signifies might and elevation.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 299

And it is said that it is a wealthy woman.

Ta'tir al-Anam fi Ta'bir al-Manam, p. 299

Also in the sources

horse hair · horse armor · colors of horses · grey (dapple) horse · sea horse (hippopotamus) · horse meat · camels fighting horses · white horse and robe of honour · wooden horse · neighing of a horse · horses racing about · horse trainer · post horse · Horse-tamer (trainer of riding beasts)

270 more passages on this symbol are in the database and used by the interpreter.