The Real Mystery of the Uffington White Horse

Source: english-heritage.org.uk

There are more than 50 hill figures in the UK and 17 of them are of horses. One stands out pristinely despite being the oldest English hill figure dating back 3,000 years. The abstract stick figure horse near the village of Uffington in Oxfordshire measures 374 feet in length and can be seen from 20 miles away. It’s cut into the hill up to a meter deep and filled with crushed white chalk. As for its origin and purpose, researchers have many theories, but none are conclusive.

A Nod to Minimalist Line Art

Viewed from a distance, the Uffington White Horse looks as if it’s bouncing across the hillside. In the early hours of the morning, the sun rises from behind the mustang and passes over it. It’s suspiciously similar to Celtic art, where horses are often shown pulling the sun. This fact has also been a clue to the origin of the Uffington White Horse.

Uffington White Horse, sketched by William Plenderleath

What’s perplexing though is that despite being primitive, it looks modern and elegant with a beautiful shape. The artist seemed to have taken a different approach on this particular equine drawing compared to those found in surrounding areas. While the others clearly resemble a horse, this one’s more symbolic and open to interpretation. Some experts, in fact, believe that it’s not the figure of a horse at all but that of a dog.

Whatever animal its creator intended it to be, it’s lithe with a thin abdomen, stubby hind legs, thin fore legs, a long tail, and a round eye set in a square head. The body and limbs are exaggerated and reminiscent of a single line drawing of a horse. Because of these qualities, the Uffington White Horse is regarded as a chef-d'oeuvre of minimalist line art.

One line drawing of a horse by Loooop Studio

The Significance of Uffington White Horse

In the past, the Uffington White Horse was a cause for massive celebration. Chalking day as it was called, was an ancient cleaning ritual that took place once every seven years in midsummer. Records show it had lasted from at least 1677 until the late 18th century where thousands of villagers would come, holding a three-day festival in a nearby hillfort.

After three millennia, it’s still a social event, albeit one that’s more low-key. These days, the cleaning and chalking process takes place every summer and it’s overseen by the National Trust to make sure the original shape of the horse is maintained.

The work is done by anyone who wants to participate and there’s always enough help. Volunteers are allocated an area and handed hammers, buckets of chalk, and kneepads. Everyone rolls up their sleeves to pound the chalk into a paste and use it to whiten the gritty pathways in the grass.

The Uffington White Horse has been part of many families’ lives with memories going back generations. Some would make a wish on the eye of the horse while others believe the figure has a spiritual significance that connects them to the land.

Final Thoughts

In essence, the Uffington White Horse is ritualistic as much as it is artistic. The minimalist line art still has a deep meaning for those who live near it. It may have been created with no clear purpose but the ancient art has never failed to bring people together over and over again for 3,000 years. 

Perhaps the real mystery of the Uffington White Horse is not what or why it was made. But how abstract art, even when it’s not fully comprehended can compel people to bind forces for its preservation, for all eternity.