Mind-boggling horse optical illusion stumps the internet

Optical illusion horse
(Image credit: Future)

Last year, the internet went wild for a rotating horse. In the optical illusion, it wasn't clear in which direction the horse was rotating – and in this new, somewhat similar example, it isn't clear in which direction another horse is walking. There's just something about indeterminately moving horses, huh? 

The equine illusion has stumped the internet, with some seeing the horse walk forwards, and others seeing it walk backwards (this writer is in the latter camp). And according to some, this determines whether the viewer is left or right-brained. (Looking for more mind-bogglers? Check out the best optical illusions of all time.)

Horse optical illusion

Forwards or backwards? (Image credit: Julia Bradbury on Twitter)

Apparently (according to, er, TV presenter Julia Bradbury (opens in new tab)), if you see the horse walking forwards, you're left-brained, and backwards means you're right-brained. According to Science™️, left-brained people are more analytical and detailed driven, whereas right-brained people are creative and intuitive.

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Judging by the response, it seems most viewers initially see the horse walking backwards. But stare at it long enough, and it might appear to change direction. "Woah, I'm seeing both," one user Tweets, while another adds, "definitely backwards... oh, wait...".

Like that infamous rotating horse, this is one we could stare at all day. And with that, we have another contender for the best animal optical illusions of all time (yes, that is a real list that exists).

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Daniel Piper
Senior News Editor

Daniel Piper is Creative Bloq’s Senior News Editor. As the brand’s Apple authority, he covers all things Mac, iPhone, iPad and the rest. He also reports on the worlds of design, branding and tech. Daniel joined Future in 2020 (an eventful year, to say the least) after working in copywriting and digital marketing with brands including ITV, NBC, Channel 4 and more. Outside of Future, Daniel is a global poetry slam champion and has performed at festivals including Latitude, Bestival and more. He is the author of Arbitrary and Unnecessary: The Selected Works of Daniel Piper (Selected by Daniel Piper).