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Horsemanning craze goes viral, following trends such as planking and owling, whereby people pose as if they are headless

By // UK | Horsemanning craze goes viral, following trends such as planking and owling, whereby people pose as if they are headless
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  • Latest craze sweeping internet shows people posing as if they are headless
  • Trend is inspired by the Headless Horseman
  • Follows similar online photographic trends such as 'owling' and 'planking'

By Mario Ledwith

PUBLISHED: 11:48 EST, 7 December 2012 | UPDATED: 14:16 EST, 7 December 2012

The last photography craze to sweep the internet, known as 'planking', saw people balancing poker-straight on inanimate, often dangerous, objects.

But a new craze has gone viral whereby internet users picture themselves doing something even more risky - taking their heads off.

Photographs are beginning to flood the web showing seemingly beheaded people standing beside a detached head.

Scroll down for video

The craze, known as horsemanning, has started to sweep the internet. The name is derived from the Headless Horseman

Where's your head at: The craze, known as horsemanning, has started to sweep the internet. The name is derived from the Headless Horseman

Horsemanning is not a new craze and is thought to have been performed in front of cameras since the 1920s

Craze: Horsemanning is not a new craze and is thought to have been performed in front of cameras since the 1920s

People adopt humourous positions to make it appear they have been beheaded

Ouch: People adopt humourous positions to make it appear they have been beheaded

With the swift death of 'planking' and 'owling', it was only a matter of time before 'horsemaning' had its moment once more.

Spurred by historical pictures of people cleverly posing as if they had been beheaded, internet users have flooded sites with their own takes on the concept.

The craze is a homage to the folklore character, the Headless Horseman.

The optical trick sees people positioning their bodies so that their head cannot be seen. Another person then positions themselves nearby, making it appear that the head has been detached.

Heads will roll: Whether it is going to work, or posing by the Great Wall of China, tricksters can easily seize the moment for a spot of horsemanning

Feed me some pizza

Open wider: Horsemanning helps this man eat a slice of pizza while lying on his back

Head on a string:

Head on a string: Internet users get the opportunity to show off their flexibility, with this woman bending backwards to hide her head

The set-up allows people room for improvisation, often with hilarious results.

But if the savvy photgraphers taking the snaps think they are being wholly original by partaking in the craze, they may want to think again.

Horsemanning dates as far back as the 1920s, when it was a popular way to pose for photographs.

Inventive users often use props such as sofas to perform the trick, but some are slightly darker, placing their headless bodies in machines and under cars.

It is the latest in a series of trends to take over message boards and forums.

Before 'planking', the internet was awash with people 'owling', whereby they would sit like the nocturnal bird in unusual positions.

Other popular photography crazes inlcude 'planking' and 'owling'

Head in your hand: Other popular photography crazes inlcude 'planking' and 'owling'

One man shows off his take on horsemanning, or perhaps just a very long neck

Giraffe: One man shows off his take on horsemanning, or perhaps just a very long neck

Props: People often use sofas and chairs to get in the right positions to take the snaps

VIDEO: More top "Horsemanning" Pics:

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