Black and grey realism tattoo of a horse head wearing a bridle with a windswept mane, placed on the upper back.

Horse head with bridle on upper back

Realism · Back · Black and grey · Photo

A horse head wearing a bridle faces right, with its mane swept back in loose, feathered strands. The linework is soft and the shading is smooth, with dark tones around the muzzle and mane and lighter highlights on the forehead and cheek. The design is in black and grey ink and fills the centre of the frame against the skin of the upper back.

Realism Back Horse Horse head Mane

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A story inspired by this tattoo · fiction

The mare has slipped her headcollar again, and from the lychgate you can see her cropping the verge with the bridle still hanging from one ear, her mane lifting off the Downs like something alive. Your uncle Aled swears she did it on purpose. There are twenty minutes before the vicar comes out, and half the village is pretending not to watch you.

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You walk down the lane in your good shoes, already ruined by the mud. The bridle is the one your grandfather rode with, its brass worn to a dull gold, and you carry it over your arm because she will only come to someone who has it. She lifts her head when you say her name, the white star on her forehead bright as a coin, and lets you close enough to smell the hay on her breath.

Behind you the bell starts up, and Aled calls that you'll be late. You slide the cheekpiece over her ears and tell her she is not getting out of this one, not today. She tosses her head, mane flying, and for a moment you think she will bolt for the hedge. Then she tucks her nose into your collar as if she has been waiting all morning for you to arrive.

You lead her up the lane at a walk while the bell rings on, and the guests turn at the gate to see the bride coming up the hill with a horse at her shoulder instead of a father. Your mother presses a handkerchief to her mouth and says it is the first time she has ever seen you look entirely like yourself.