In traditional folklore and 2026's continuing interest in "Faery" mythology, the fae (or fairies) are often depicted riding the backs of birds, insects, or magical creatures like the Kelpie. In older Celtic and British myths, the "Fairy Rade" (a ceremonial procession) depicted them riding miniature white horses with silver bells in their manes. Some legends suggest they ride objects like ragwort stems or stalks of grass, which they enchant to fly like horses. In Scottish mythology, the "Each-Uisge" (Water Horse) is a fae being that carries riders into the depths of a loch. Modern 2026 fantasy depictions have expanded this to include dragonflies, owls, and even stags. However, a common folkloric theme is that the fae can also "steal" human horses at night, returning them in the morning exhausted and with their manes tangled into "elf-locks," a sign that the "Good Neighbors" have been riding across the countryside while the world slept.