Tradition / Region: Belarusian Mythology
Alternative names: Kumelhan, Кумельган
Category: Horse
The Myth
Kumelgan is an evil spirit in Belarusian folklore that harms horses. It is described as a creature that combines the forms of a man and a horse, with the body and arms of a man covered in horsehair, the head of a horse, and hooves in place of hands and feet. It can walk either upright on two legs or on all fours like a horse.
The spirit is regarded as the enemy of Vazila, the protector of horses. Kumelgan’s purpose is to injure horses whenever Vazila is absent. It tortures horses, poisons their feed with harmful plants, and creeps into stables at night. Although it is considered too weak to overpower several horses at once, it attacks animals one by one, pressing them down until they collapse and die. Farmers believed that if several people entered a stable where strange noises had been heard, Kumelgan would immediately flee.
When horses grazed without Vazila’s protection, Kumelgan was said to lead them deep into the forest. It did not usually kill mares but abandoned them to become prey for wild beasts. The spirit could also change its appearance to resemble any horse it wished, allowing it to mingle unnoticed among a herd or even enter a stable disguised as one of the owner’s own horses.
According to the account, the name Kumelgan derives from words meaning “hind part of an animal’s body” or “to walk on hind legs,” referring to the creature’s unusual appearance and manner of movement.
Sources
Bestiary.us. (n.d.). Kumelgan. In New Bestiary: Encyclopedia of Imaginary Beings. Retrieved June 29, 2026, from https://www.bestiary.us/kumelgan/en