The horse is a mythical beast that lived among the gods, sometimes in winged form, sometimes as a half-human creature. Horses were capable of travelling to another world to seek knowledge concealed from humans. To those who believed in him, the beast gave wise and noble counsel. Due to its speed and jumping power, the horse has traditionally been linked to joy, light and the sun. The small, dangling ferrules are believed to bring luck and to banish evil forces with their tinkling. The prototype for the pendant derives from Finland's eastern kindred peoples. It dates from the years 1050-1300.