The púca is a ghostly horse, with horns, who appears to people outdoors late at night, races in under their legs, and brings them on terrifying rides through the countryside. It is said that he was outwitted by a man whom he had brought on such rides on two successive nights. On the third night, the man (acting on the advice of a wise person) wore silver spurs, and gave the púca such a terrible time with them that the púca agreed never to trouble him again. This story is told of many places, most notably Poll an Phúca in Co Wicklow. Otherwise, the púca can be a quite benevolent being – it is said, for instance, that he once gave a benighted man a warning that the fairy host (slua sí - the shock-troop of the fairies) was approaching, and beckoned the man to come into a hole in the ground with him until the danger passed overhead.