It is a rather common impression that girls in latency and early adolescence develop marked interest in horses and riding. Pearson discusses such interests of a girl patient. It became clear that the horse incorporated a phallus for the

girl and that riding was an acceptable form of masturbation. Pearson shows how these meanings of the horse and riding are not exclusive for his patient but have an ancient, universal history. In addition, the analysis showed that the horse, and the patient's relationship to it, represented her lost mother.