I had a really fun time designing this creature. After doing my research about the Kelpie, I knew what elements I wanted to base my design around.

One that it was predatory, consuming the flesh of humans which is different from more mythical horses which are normally peaceful and angelic in nature. I really liked the idea of this beast having some mean looking teeth, so crocodiles is what I looked at with their long jaws and visible, jutting teeth.

The second thing was that the Kelpie lives and in the water. It needed to look at home in that environment; predatory fish was a good place to start. I did a couple over very fish-like horse but they were too extreme and I wanted it to be more sublet. I made the tale broader and flat so it could be used like a rodder. I got rid of hair on the body, giving it smooth skin so it can move through water with ease. A small detail I added was placing the Kelpies nostrils on the topside of its nose (like crocodiles) so its head can stay mostly submerged while hunting.

Another thing I wanted was for my Kelpe to look ancient like it’s been living off the land for hundreds of years. Give it was a short, tattered mane helped with this.