Horses legs in statues denoting death of rider

[FTVS]

I have been looking into the statement lately that pertaining statues of figures on horses that if the horse has all four legs on the ground, the rider did not die on the field of battle, if one leg raised, then the rider died of wounds sustained on the battlefield but not at the battle and two legs raised, the rider succumbed to his wounds on the battlefield. How true is this? Googling has led me to believe this is certainly true in Gettysburg but is it true more locally to me in London? Has anyone got any examples of statues that support or contradict this edict?

[Quizmonster]

Someone once researched this subject to try to confirm or deny the significance of the position of the horse's legs in these statues. He collected a large number of photographs of such heroes from all around the world and then delved into how they had actually died. There was absolutely no connection at all! In other words, you are just as likely to find a hero who died in battle on a horse with all four hooves on the ground as you are to find one with front legs in the air, for example. The joke often made about this subject is that the thing you have to watch out for is the statue with all four hooves in the air...it might be about to fall on you!

[FTVS]

Also forgotto ask - how do you get to be one of mounted dead? Do you have been of a certain military rank?

[linseli]

I'd always thought it was true until I saw this a while ago... http://www.snopes.com/military/statue.htm

[Ray the DJ]

In Coventry, the statue of Lady Godiva has a horse with one foot in the air. I don't think she was ever in a battle, except for the odd one with her husband.

[Ray the DJ]

Sorry I forgot horses don't have feet. I should have said 'One hoof in the air'.