Fairy riding (Scottish Gaelic: marcachd shìth/a' mharcachd-shìth/na marcachd-shìth) was 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.
References
- This article incorporates text from "Dwelly's [Scottish] Gaelic Dictionary" (1911) marcachd-shìth
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