What goes around comes around

Posted by M. Reynolds on September 08, 2007

I am curious about The origin of a phrase that my dad told me that his father (born 1862 in the Va. mountains,USA) used. The phrase is "what goes around a horse's back, comes around a horse's belly". Dad used the phrase in much the same way as many use the phrase "what goes around comes around". The last phrase seems to be a shortened (though less colorful) version. Since the meaning of both phrases is that of something returning or coming full circle, perhaps the reference is to a saddle going onto a horse and the straps meeting under the 'belly', completing a circle? Any thoughts?