Friday the 13th at the Barn: 9 Horse Superstitions That Might (or Might Not) Doom Your Ride

From renaming horses to wearing the wrong color at a show, the horse world has its fair share of superstitions. In honor of Friday the 13th, let’s take a look at the barn beliefs that supposedly bring bad luck (whether we believe them or not).

Horse people like to think of themselves as practical, hardworking folks grounded in reality (except when it comes to buying a new horse or more tack). We deal with 1,200-pound animals, vet bills that require small loans, and mud seasons that last approximately 11 months.

And yet.

Walk through almost any barn long enough and you’ll discover that equestrians have an impressive collection of superstitions — little rituals and rules designed to keep bad luck away and good rides coming.

Do we believe them?

Of course not.

Do we secretly follow them anyway?

Absolutely.

In honor of Friday the 13th, here are nine of the most common horse-world superstitions that people swear by.

1. Never Change a Horse’s Name

This is probably the most widely repeated superstition in the horse world: changing a horse’s name brings bad luck.

According to barn folklore, if you rename a horse you risk angering the horse-luck gods (or possibly the horse itself), which may result in mysterious injuries, poor show results, or that one weird lameness the vet can’t quite explain.

Of course, this becomes complicated when you buy a horse named something like:

• “Hot Chocolate Thunder”
• “Tax Audit”
• “Dave” (wait, I think I might want to name a horse Dave now…)

Most owners eventually decide the risk of bad luck is worth it. And, of course, there are times when a horse comes from such a sad background that you change its name in the hopes of giving it a new start.

2. Always Give a New Halter When You Buy a Horse

Many horse people insist that when you purchase a horse, you send it home in a brand-new halter rather than the one it came in.

The reasoning varies depending on who you ask:

• The old halter carries the previous owner’s luck (good or bad).
• It represents a clean start for the horse.
• Or (the most realistic explanation) nobody wants their expensive new horse wearing a frayed nylon halter from 1997.

Either way, it’s one of those barn rituals that people quietly follow just in case.

3. Don’t Wear Anything New on Show Day

You know that brand-new show shirt you bought for the big competition?

Yeah. Maybe wear it to the barn first.

There’s a long-standing belief among riders that competing in brand-new gear brings bad luck, which is why many people “break in” their clothes and tack before using them at a show.

The logic is simple:

If something can malfunction, explode, or rub a mysterious blister on your ankle, it will do so at the worst possible moment.

So test it first.

4. Green Is an Unlucky Color

For reasons lost somewhere in horse-culture history, green has long been considered unlucky in equestrian sport.

Some say it’s because green blends in with the grass, making riders less visible in hunting fields. Others claim it dates back to horse-racing traditions.

Whatever the origin, plenty of riders still avoid green show attire like it’s cursed.

Which is awkward, because half the barn aisle is covered in green saddle pads.

5. Your Hat Should Never Go on the Bed

This one comes from the cowboy world.

Placing your hat on a bed is widely considered bad luck — and possibly an invitation for something unpleasant to happen during your next ride.

Practical riders point out a simpler explanation:

Cowboy hats are filthy.

Putting them on the bed is just objectively gross.

6. Braids Must Be Even

If you’re braiding for a show, some riders insist the number of braids must be even, otherwise bad luck follows you into the ring.

Of course, most braiders are just trying to make the neck look nice.

But if the final count ends up odd?

Don’t be surprised if someone quietly adds one more braid “just in case.”

7. Fairy Knots Mean Your Horse Was Ridden by Fairies

Ever gone out to the barn and found your horse’s mane mysteriously tangled into little knots?

According to old folklore, those are “fairy knots ” or “elf locks,” and they supposedly mean fairies rode your horse during the night.

 

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In reality?

Your horse probably rolled in the mud.

But honestly, the fairy story is way more fun.

8. Horseshoes Bring Good Luck (If Hung Correctly)

One of the oldest horse-related superstitions involves horseshoes.

Hanging a horseshoe above a doorway is supposed to bring good fortune and ward off evil spirits.

But here’s where it gets complicated:

Some say it must hang open-end up so the luck doesn’t spill out.
Others say open-end down so the luck pours onto people entering.
Either way, someone in your barn is convinced everyone else is hanging them wrong.

9. Seeing Certain Horses Means Good (or Bad) Luck

Horse colors have inspired all kinds of folklore.

For example:

• Seeing a gray horse could be considered lucky.
• Piebalds (black and white) are often considered lucky.
• A single white foot is lucky (with the saying “one white foot, buy him”).
• Four white legs/feet are generally are considered bad luck (with the saying “If you have a horse with four white legs, keep him not a day”).
• Skewbalds (brown/red and white) often are considered unlucky.
• Seeing certain horses — depending on region or tradition — might mean bad luck unless specific conditions are met.

Horse people have been assigning mystical meaning to horse colors for centuries.

Which is impressive, considering horses themselves absolutely do not care.

So… Are Horse Superstitions Real?

Probably not.

But horse people are practical enough to know that when you’re dealing with a thousand-pound animal, a little extra luck never hurts.

So we’ll keep the rituals.

We’ll avoid the unlucky colors (well, maybe…).

We’ll count our braids twice.

And we might quietly slip a new halter onto that horse we just bought,  just in case.

After all, on Friday the 13th, you really can’t be too careful.