'Lobey Dosser' – Glasgow, Scotland - Atlas Obscura

'Lobey Dosser'

This two-legged horse statue celebrates a beloved cartoonist and his quirky characters. 

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Take a good look at this statue of a two-legged horse, and you’ll notice two passengers sitting on its back. One is Lobey Dosser, a much-loved cartoon character from the ‘40s and ‘50s. The other is Rank Bajin, his nemesis.

Lobey Dosser was the sheriff of Calton Creek, a fictitious place in Arizona that’s full of Scottish immigrants. He and his trusty two-legged steed El Fideldo (Elfie) protect Calton Creek from the nefarious wrongdoings of Rank Bajin. Speaking entirely in the Glasgow dialect, the cartoon was probably lost in meaning to anyone outside Scotland.

The curious trio are characters created by William “Bud” Neill, who turned to cartoon work after being injured during World War II. Their adventures were published in Glasgow’s Evening Times from 1949 through 1956 and also in the Sunday Mail.

Due to the cartoon’s cult status, after Neill’s death, public funds were raised to erect a statue in his honor. The artwork was created by Tony Morrow and Nick Gillan, two art students. It was erected in 1992 and is believed to be the world’s only two-legged horse statue.

Know Before You Go

The statue is along Woodlands Road in Glasgow, next to the Free Presbyterian Church. The annual Glasgow West End Festival has its own Lobey Dosser Day. 

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