In American folklore The Headless Horseman Pursuing Ichabod Crane, painting by John Quidor (1858) Toad and the 1999 Tim Burton film Sleepy Hollow. Examples include the dullahan from Ireland, who is a demonic fairy usually depicted riding a horse and carrying his head under his arm the titular knight from the English tale Sir Gawain and the Green Knight and " The Legend of Sleepy Hollow," a short story written in 1820 by American Washington Irving, which has been adapted into several other works of literature and film including the 1949 Disney animated film The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. The figure is traditionally depicted as a rider upon horseback who is missing his head.ĭepending on the legend, the Horseman is either carrying his head, or is missing his head altogether, and is searching for it.
The Headless Horseman is a mythical figure who has appeared in folklore around the world since the Middle Ages. Cover page to Mayne Reid's version of the legend, published in 1865 For other uses, see Headless Horseman (disambiguation).