Wooden horse

The Wooden horse, also known as the Spanish Donkey (in Spanish: Burro Español), Chevalet (a diminutive of the French word for horse - cheval), and also a Goat (Germany and other parts of Central and Eastern Europe), is a medieval torture device, used in modern BDSM practice as a punishment device in consensual play and popular as a piece of dungeon equipment.

The traditional Wooden horse consists of a horizontal wooden beam, usually with a triangular profile and the sharp edge pointing upwards, or of two boards that were fastened lengthwise to each other at an acute angle at the top to form a narrow ridge. This acute angle or ridge is the back of the "horse," on which the victim is placed with their legs spread so that the edge rests against their groin. The triangular beam or the angled boards forming the ridge are usually mounted on a support with 4 wooden legs at the ends, which raise the device above the ground and give it the characteristic appearance of a horse. Some devices, especially those used for public punishment, had at one end a crude horse's or goat's head made of wood or leather, padded with straw for bulk. The head was added to enhance the impression of a wooden horse/ wooden goat. The devices used for interrogation or as a disciplinary measure in institutions are usually considerably simpler and devoid of embellishment.

The wooden horse is a torture device used for interrogation, institutional discipline, or corporal punishment. In popular culture, it is usually associated with the Spanish Inquisition, which brought it to the New World, making it known worldwide as a terrifying Spanish invention, but in reality, it was originally used by the French Inquisition, albeit on a much more limited scale. Before it became a cruel torture device, the wooden horse in various modifications and designs was known in many parts of continental Europe as a device for public punishment, usually for minor crimes related to the violation of moral norms (lying, slander, adultery, etc.). This is also reflected in its design, often ironic and mocking, which is intended not only to cause pain but also to allow the victim to be publicly exposed and humiliated in front of the local community.

Some theories speculate that the victims punished on a wooden horse in its early period were mostly women and that it was actually a device constructed according to the female anatomy and intended to punish femininity. There is no evidence that the device was originally created to punish women, but it is a fact that many women were punished by riding wooden horses in public for offenses such as adultery or chatter, which were traditionally associated with the sinful and frivolous nature of women. In its modern use as BDSM equipment, the wooden horse is popular primarily as a device for torturing and disciplining female submissives, and also as a mocking and humiliating punishment for feminized male slaves. It is possible that this role of the device is culturally or historically determined.

The principle of operation of the Wooden horse is simple and elegant - the victim is placed with their legs spread on the triangular edge of the device, imitating sitting on a horse (often derisively called "riding"). The sharp edge of the device cuts into the perineum (the area between the genitals and the anus) and the inner side of the buttocks with the victim's own weight ensuring the force of the pressure. Sometimes, to increase the impact and to prevent the victim from sliding off the horse's back, additional weights are placed on the legs, which increase the pressure and pain. The victim's hands are usually tied behind their back so that they cannot help or free themselves.

When the victim is placed on the horse, the sharp edge immediately digs into the groin and lower pelvis, creating a feeling of growing pressure and dull pain. Most victims instinctively try to tighten their hips to reduce the pressure on the perineum, which is very exhausting, although it initially leads to improvement. Usually, while tensing their muscles in search of relief, the victim realizes that their sensations, generally excruciating, are about to worsen over time, leading to the first signs of fear, the desire to escape, and panic at the inability to do so.

The sharp edge compresses the soft tissues, and the constant pressure on the pelvic floor interferes with normal blood circulation, causing a burning sensation, itching, and tingling throughout the buttocks and groin area. The victim's leg muscles are no longer able to support the body's weight, reducing the pressure on the groin, and the victim, if not fixed still, slowly begins to rock back and forth, transferring the pressure from the genitals to the anus and tailbone in an attempt to find momentary relief. In men, leaning forward can cause compression of the testicles, which usually results in a dull or sharp pain depending on their position, while in women, the edge usually cuts into the labia, resulting in painful tingling in the vulva and a feeling of dryness. Shifting weight forward or backward, which visibly resembles the movements of riding, causes the ridge to rub against the flesh, leading to chafing, bruising, and swelling, without leading to a noticeable improvement in the condition. This also exhausts the abdominal and back muscles, which, after the already-occurring exhaustion of the thigh muscles, makes holding the position difficult and painful. The victim begins to agonize.

Usually, at this point, the hypothetical Inquisitor would begin questioning the victim, and the experienced Dominant would end the scene to avoid further aggravating the partner's condition.

How quickly and whether this point is reached depends on the design of the device and the physical and mental endurance of the victim. Most wooden horses used in BDSM practice are much more sparing in design than their historical counterparts.

The sharpness of the edge on historical devices can vary greatly. A blunter edge usually causes discomfort without breaking the skin, while the sharp edges common on later devices are generally sharp enough to cut through, causing an open wound and bleeding. Devices designed for BDSM purposes usually have rounded and cushioned edges to avoid tearing and bleeding. Such an edge is still capable of bruising the soft tissues of the pelvic floor and will certainly feel unbearable when the groin is pressed into it, but it greatly reduces the risk of skin tearing, internal tissue injuries, and permanent damage to the pelvic floor nerves.

Historically, most wooden horses had high legs to prevent the victim from reaching the ground and using them for support, as in the later versions of the Spanish donkey the height of their supporting legs could reach 1.8 - 2.1 m. This design decision was usually motivated by the intention of allowing the inquisitor to hang a significant amount of weight on the victim's legs, suspending them from a rope by the ankles and allowing them to swing as the victim moved trying to ease their position.

Most modern devices used in BDSM practice are significantly lower, allowing the victim to touch the floor with their fingertips, which, without reducing the pressure in the groin, still significantly eases their experience. In some devices this is achieved by adjusting the height, others have steps whose position can be adjusted. It should be recognized, that there are also devices that seek maximum believability and in them, the victim is deprived of the opportunity to find additional support.

Last but not least, in BDSM practice, historical torture devices such as the wooden horse are used to excite and provide pleasure, not compel or provoke injury. Sessions are usually shorter than historical ones and, unlike them, can always be terminated at any time if the passive partner (masochist, submissive, slave) so wishes.

Sitting on a wooden horse for long periods of time, as well as using it frequently without allowing the body to recover from the trauma, can lead to serious and potentially long-term damage to the muscles and nerves of the pelvic floor. A too-sharp edge of the ridge, as well as the use of additional weights to intensify the experience, significantly increase the risk of tissue damage.

Women generally tolerate the wooden horse more easily than men, whose anatomy creates risks of compression, injury, and damage to the testicles. The risks of internal damage to the reproductive organs in women are generally considered negligible.

Riding a wooden horse often results in discomfort in the pelvic floor, including the perineum and the inner sides of the buttocks. Common symptoms include pain when sitting or walking, bruising, swelling on the inner thighs and buttocks, as well as muscle soreness in the legs, abdomen, and back. These effects typically subside within a few days to a week, depending on the scene's intensity. If symptoms persist, or if numbness or persistent tingling occurs, it may indicate a medical issue requiring prompt attention.