Horse Being Eaten Dream Interpretation

“I had a dream where animals where eating a brown horse. He was still alive, and I was watching him suffer. What does it mean?” (A.D.)

Horses are symbols of power, progress and strength. The stature, color and condition of the horse are meaningful variations in a dream. In this brief but potent dream, the horse was brown in color and being devoured alive by animals.

It’s interesting to note that the dreamer reported that the predators were “animals” in a vague sense and not any particular species of animal. Sometimes, dreamers don’t remember details upon awakening (or forget to pass those along when they submit their dreams). Details matter and can greatly impact the overall meaning of the dream. However, it is my belief that significant images will stand out in a dreamer’s conscious mind when he awakens while less important symbols can be forgotten. In this dream, a pack of animals was key, not the species. Let’s look at the other dream symbols to consider the horse symbol in context.

The Dream Symbols

Animals. Animals in general differ from domesticated pets or livestock. The term ‘animal’ points to primal existence, wildness, base desires.
Horse. The horse is a revered animal in human culture. It is of great service to man. It often stands for tradition, stability, strength, forward progress and power. The horse in this dream, however, was not in a power position. It was lying on the ground, helpless, victimized, being consumed
Brown (color of horse). The color brown always needs to be interpreted in context to the other dream symbols because, as with all dream symbols, there is a dichotomy of meaning. Brown can be muddy or brown can be stable. Brown can be grounded and earthy or brown can be dirty and fecal. The brown horse here seems to represent stability.
Alive. When something is still alive, there is a chance of recovery. Is this good or bad? Depends on what is still alive.
Watching. Dreamers often see themselves in dreams as observers. This means that on some level, the dreamer is aware of what is taking place during his waking life. He sees what is going on.
Suffer. This clue is fairly straightforward. Something or someone is suffering.

The Interpretation

That animals were eating this brown horse seems to indicate that there is an aspect of you that feels your primal urges are conflicting with your conservative, practical self.

The brown horse can symbolize the waking life part of you that carries forward your practical life, your career, job, family/marriage or even your public image. But your baser desires (wild animals) are devouring this part of you. You see and recognize this but only watch what you've established in life suffer.

This type of dream is common among those who can't seem to control their inner urges as they negatively affect their lives. During their waking lives, they struggle with the temptation to engage in affairs, game addiction(the violent games), gamble, drink to excess, take drugs. Think of what other "animalistic" desires one can have that might threaten your practical life.

It doesn't have to be so serious a threat; perhaps if you are a college student, partying or carousing with too many girls could be threatening your academic success (think brownstone universities) or even your family support (the color brown represents earth/roots) or your ability to support your family (workhorse).

The fact that the brown horse is still alive shows that all is not lost—yet. There is still a chance for you to fend off your temptations that are threatening to devour your respectable life.

Dream Therapy

I encourage this dreamer to reflect on his daily activities to see if there are habits that impede his progress, mar his reputation or lowering his standard of living. If so, he should consider this dream as a warning from his higher self to make necessary changes before it is too late. Should the end come, this dreamer will experience not only failure to reach his goals but great regret because none of it will be a big surprise since his inner self knew better all along.