Horse

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A House Manderly knight atop a magnificent warhorse. © Fantasy Flight Games
Knight of Flowers riding a mare. © Fantasy Flight Games
An Andal charger by Carolina Eade © Fantasy Flight Games
Highgarden destrier by Storn Cook © Fantasy Flight Games
A garron of the Iron Islands by Zach Graves © Fantasy Flight Games
A courser of the north by Dimitri Bielak © Fantasy Flight Games


Horses are four-legged mammals of the known world. They are used for transportation, in combat, as a patrimonial resource, and as a symbol of status.

Types of Horses

Classification by breed and use

  • Destriers are tall, strong, splendid animals, often high spirited. Destriers give knights a majestic air at tourneys. They are normally the most valuable type of horse, being well bred and highly trained but quite expensive.[1] Destriers can founder in snow.[2]
  • Coursers are smaller than destriers but faster,[3] fit for war and for hunting. Warhorses are usually coursers, although they may in rare occasions be destriers.[N 1] The expected mount of knights and nobility when they find themselves in combat or jousting situations.
  • Chargers are warhorses used on campaign[4] and in tourneys.[5][6] Some armored nobles of Slaver's Bay ride chargers.[7]
  • Palfreys have an ambling capability which makes them a more comfortable mount for long riding journeys. A well-bred palfrey may be as expensive as a destrier.[citation needed] Even royalty and high nobility will often be seen riding palfreys,[8][9][10] although they are not meant for combat or jousting.
  • Garrons are the only reasonable choice of horse beyond the Wall. Both the Night's Watch and the free folk use them in considerable numbers, both for riding and carrying cargo. Among horses, garrons are notable for their capability to deal with irregular terrain and cold temperatures. Under extreme cold, they fare better than palfreys and far better than destriers, which have considerably higher eating demands and are not particularly capable of dealing with snow.[2][11][12] The northern mountain clans also favor the use of garrons and bear-paws to facilitate travel.[11]
  • Rounseys are strong and capable steeds of no particular breeding. Although rounseys are capable war horses, they are relegated to hedge knights, squires, and non-knightly men-at-arms. Rounseys are common riding horses and may also be used as pack animals.[N 1]
  • Sand steeds are common in Dorne. They are smaller than normal warhorses and cannot bear the weight of the armor (barding) that a warhorse usually wears. They are able to run for a day and a half before tiring.[4]
  • Stots are inferior horses.[13]
  • Zorses are a fierce black-and-white striped horse hybrid from Essos.[5]
  • Ponies are noticeably small even when fully grown. They are useful for driving charts, for carrying cargo, and as mounts for smaller riders.[14]
  • Mules are the offspring of a male donkey and a female horse. They are usually infertile, although it is possible for female mules to breed. Mules are valued for their endurance and versatility for non-combat tasks. Mules are excellent working animals and may be ridden, although they are not meant for combat.[N 1]
  • Drays, also called plow horses, are strong horses meant for heavy tasks. They are not necessarily unfit for riding, although they will not be the best choice for combat situations.[15]

By reproductive capability

  • A gelding is a castrated horse of any breed or purpose. Castration is useful for making the horse less hormonal and supposedly easier to deal with.
  • A a mare is a female horse of any breed or purpose. A young mare is known as a filly.
  • A stallion is a non-castrated horse of any breed or purpose. The presence of testosterone may make stallions more physically impressive than otherwise comparable mares or geldings, but it also makes their behavior more aggressive.

Culture

Dothraki by Rene Aigner ©

Horses are highly valued by most cultures in Westeros and Essos.

Westeros

In the Seven Kingdoms, a knight is expected to be able to afford armor and a warhorse.[16]

North

While northern cavalry ride warhorses, the hill clans prefer garrons.[2][11]

Beyond the Wall

The Night's Watch and the free folk employ sure-footed little garrons beyond the Wall.[17][18][19] Some knights ride destriers, although most rangers prefer garrons.[20]

Dorne

Dorne is famed by its valued sand steeds, beautiful and valued horses.[4]

Iron Islands

Horses are barely used in the Iron Islands, not only due to their basic island geography, but also because the isles are too sparse to provide them good grazing, and too rocky for easy travel even on the same island. Most ironborn are indifferent riders at best. The few horses that are encountered in the Iron Islands tend to be either garrons (bred to be sure-footed on rocky terrain) or "shaggy Harlaw ponies" (apparently bred to survive on meager grazing). Even drays are not as common as ox-pulled carts.[21]

Essos

Horse archers are more common in Essos than in Westeros.[22]

Qohor

The Qohorik are said to sacrifice horses, bullocks, and calves to the Black Goat.[23]

Volantis

Volantene chariots are pulled by teams of four horses.[24]

Dothraki

The Dothraki measure wealth largely by the possession of horses, and spend most of their lives riding them. The horse is in the heart of the lives of Dothraki, who are sometimes called "horselords". For Dothraki the horse is a mount and an inspiration for all craft. They worship a horse god.[25]

The nomadic lifestyle, as well as many cultural taboos are directly associated with the horse. The Dothraki fear the ocean, as their horses cannot drink salt water.[26] Persons unable to ride are looked down upon in Dothraki culture, and riding capability is associated with social prestige.[25]

At the death of a Dothraki, his horse is slaughtered and later sacrificed on the funeral pyre of his master.[27] The Dothraki consume almost exclusively horse meat, which they prefer to beef and pork,[28] and to it they attribute many properties, especially for pregnant women. They drink a low alcohol beverage derived from fermented mare's milk.[29] The Dothraki consider boats to be wooden horses.[26]

History

In antiquity, the grasslands of central Essos are said to have populated by centaurs.[30] The Sarnori used chariots pulled by bloodred horses, but they were defeated by the Dothraki.[30]

Horses were first brought to Westeros by the First Men, who traveled across the Arm of Dorne.[31] The First Men used horses and bronze weapons and armor against the children of the forest.[32] According to Old Nan, the Others rode pale dead horses during the Long Night.[33]

Quotes

Some knights never name their horses. That way, when they die in battle, the grief is not so hard to bear. There are always more horses to be had, but it's hard to lose a faithful friend.[34]

Destriers were trained to kick and bite. In war they were a weapon, like the men who rode them.[35]

—thoughts of Brienne of Tarth

See also

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Beric Dondarrion mentions "Too many of my men ride rounseys, drays, and mules against foes mounted on coursers and destriers." (A Storm of Swords, Arya VII)

References

  1. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 9, Davos I.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 41, The Turncloak.
  3. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 47, Arya IX.
  4. 4.0 4.1 4.2 A Storm of Swords, Chapter 38, Tyrion V.
  5. 5.0 5.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 30, Eddard VII.
  6. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 2, Sansa I.
  7. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 57, Daenerys V.
  8. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 17, Tyrion IV.
  9. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 31, Catelyn III.
  10. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 41, Tyrion IX.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 42, The King's Prize.
  12. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 62, The Sacrifice.
  13. The Hedge Knight.
  14. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 1, Bran I.
  15. A Storm of Swords, Chapter 11, Jaime II.
  16. So Spake Martin: Some Info About Knighthood, July 30, 1999
  17. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 68, Jon VIII.
  18. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 5, Samwell I.
  19. A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 58, Jon XII.
  20. A Game of Thrones, Prologue.
  21. A Clash of Kings, Chapter 24, Theon II.
  22. So Spake Martin: Military Questions, June 21, 2001
  23. The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Qohor.
  24. The World of Ice & Fire, The Free Cities: Volantis.
  25. 25.0 25.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 68, Daenerys IX.
  26. 26.0 26.1 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 54, Daenerys VI.
  27. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 64, Daenerys VIII.
  28. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 31, Tyrion IV.
  29. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 46, Daenerys V.
  30. 30.0 30.1 The World of Ice & Fire, Beyond the Free Cities: The Grasslands.
  31. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 66, Bran VII.
  32. The World of Ice & Fire, Dorne: The Breaking.
  33. A Game of Thrones, Chapter 24, Bran IV.
  34. The Sworn Sword.
  35. A Feast for Crows, Chapter 31, Brienne VI.

External links