Searching for white horses in Wiltshire

When we went of a road trip in Wiltshire (we were on our way to Bath) some weeks back we ran into a white horse (see picture below). When examining the map we realised there were several white horses around so we decided to try to find as many as possible. Sounds like fun doesn't it!? 

There are or were at least 24 of these white horses in Britain, of which 13 are in Wiltshire and another just over the border in Oxfordshire. As you can see below we managed to collect 7 of these...!

Of the 13 horses known to have existed in Wiltshire 8 are still visible. Contrary to popular belief most white horses are not that old. Only the Uffington white horse is of certain prehistoric origin, being some  3,000 years old. Most of the others date form the last 300 years or so, but it's impossible to decide with certainty. 

The first horse we saw was the Westbury or Bratton white horse. According to www.wiltshirewhitehorses.org.uk it is the oldest in Wiltshire (although the Uffington is pre-historic - not sure how that works out...). In any case, here we go:

Dad is overlooking the nice landscape from the top of the Westbury horse 

Green

Some horses are more difficult to identify afterwards. After some detective work I have concluded that the one below is probably the New Devizes White Horse. 

Alton Barnes 

The Marlborough white horse

The origin of the Hackpen White Horse below is uncertain. 

Broadtown was one of the hardest ones ones to find. We looked and looked and drove and drove along the Marlborough Road, but could not find it. Just when we were about to give up we saw it!! The horse was on a steep slope and apparently in a depression. It has suffered from neglect through much of its history, but in 1991 the Broad Town White Horse Restoration Society was formed, and they restored it. 

The Uffington horse is one of only four that faces to the right. This is by far the oldest of all the white horses and is of an entirely different design than the others. Whether is is indeed intended to represent a horse, or some other creature instead, has been debated but it has certainly been called horse since at least medieval times. In any case, the place in commonly known as the White Horse Hill. 

Maria's mom

Maria