Horse [Forgotten Realms]

To a novice one horse is like another, but horsemen know better. These five breeds stand out across the vast eastern steppes and neighboring lands.

Nobles and farmers across the northern kingdoms prize the Ironmane for its power, speed and calm temper.

A big horse of about sixteen hands (5'4"), it is usually chestnut, sometimes gold or black. It pulls a cart or wagon with no loss of movement, moves at medium-horse speed despite its bulk, hauls a heavy warhorse's burden (260/390/520), and is less easily startled than most.

An ancient line behind many others, the Sandrunner was bred when its desert was still green, toughened as the land dried, and ran wild for centuries until people returned and tamed it.

It stands about 15 hands, slim and long-legged like a light warhorse, in gold, dun or gray coats. Breeders have honed it for speed: it has every quality of a light warhorse but is stronger, hardier and surer of foot. It thrives on fodder without grain and can last 1 to 3 days with no water.

Its fans claim no horse alive is faster. It can sprint at triple speed of 1 or 2 miles, but then needs a turn of walking and some rest, or save vs. shock to avoid collapsing from exhaustion.

Rare even at home and almost unknown abroad, it brings 1,000 gp and up locally but finds few buyers elsewhere until a race proves its worth; after a convincing showing a buyer may pay up to 5,000 gp, usually to improve local stock.

The Sandrunner's close cousin, the Silkmane is unrivaled for grace and among the most valuable horses anywhere.

It is a small, light horse of about 14 hands (4'8"), lean-muscled and long-legged, usually chestnut or white shading to gray at the rump, with long mane and tail. Tougher than it looks, it pairs a heavy horse's Hit Dice with a light horse's speed. Its rider gains +1 on Riding proficiency checks, and the horse gains +1 on saves that involve dodging, enough to leap clear of a dragon's breath at the last instant.

Its sharp senses and wits matter most. Wild ones gain +1 on their surprise die. Tame ones learn general tasks in half the usual time, can master 2 to 12 specific tricks, and grant +1 to all Animal Training checks.

Mostly found in two eastern lands, it is bred by rival nobles who keep detailed pedigrees with every sale. A typical horse sells for 1,000-3,000 gp, and a stallion with a famous sire can bring double or triple that. Abroad its quality is obvious without papers; royal buyers pay around 1,000 gp for breeding stock, though one is almost never for sale.

Neither handsome nor large, this half-horse, half-pony looks clumsy: about 13 hands (4'4"), heavy-boned, short-necked and big-headed, shaggy in winter, and usually copper or bronze with a yellow back stripe. Folk call it a half-wild.

Underneath it is excellent. Hard to kill, its dense coat and tough hide give it a good Armor Class, covers long distances swiftly on short legs, bears a medium warhorse's load (220/330/440), and stays steady in battle. It needs no grain, lives off grazing, rides long without faltering, and gains +3 on saves for lameness and exhaustion overland.

Still, it is a nomad's horse, little known abroad, and only breeders seeking stamina pay above ordinary prices.

A steppe horse crossbreed, the Frostfoot is plain but less homely than its cousin, valued for sure footing, strength and cold tolerance. It stands about 14 hands, slimmer through the chest, with a long neck, narrow head, broad hooves and light-horse proportions; its chestnut or copper coat grows long in winter.

Bred as a work animal for icy northern mountains, it has above-average Hit Dice and Armor Class. Not fast for its size, it still manages a medium warhorse's burden (220/330/440) and, like the Ironmane, pulls wagons without slowing. It gets +1 on saves vs. cold attacks and takes 1 less point per damage die from them, but saves vs. heat exhaustion at -1.

Northern farmers favor it alongside the Ironmane, and it costs only a bit more than an ordinary horse.