Grassland Horses

wild but friendly

Grassland horses live in the grasslands of Makkah, including the Badlands. Subspecies live in the northern marshes and western mountains. They come in all colors and sizes, based on both genetics and High Spirit interference.
Wild herds roam Makkah, but tribes over the centuries have domesticated and bred them for their own purposes. Horses are used in everyday life, such as traveling, hunting, playing games, and fighting. Without grassland horses, tribes would not be able to live a nomadic buffalo-hunting lifestyle such as some do, nor would the Makkah spirit binders be nearly as effective as they are.
Wild grassland horses are famous for their beautiful coats, painted by a High Spirit named the Painter before birth.

Basic Information

Anatomy

When you picture an Earth horse, specifically a Native American war pony, you probably see the grassland horse.

Genetics and Reproduction

Grassland horses can interbreed with mountain onies and swamp horses.
Domesticated horses aren't painted by the Painter, so their coat colors follow standard genetics.

Ecology and Habitats

Grassland horses thrive in Makkah's grasslands but can adapt to a variety of places on land.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Like Earth horses, grassland horses must eat and drink a lot every day. They graze typically on grasses and as frequently as possible.

Biological Cycle

Horses grow thicker coats in the winter to protect against the cold and shed them in the summer.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Stallions defend wild herds from predators and the lead mare leads the herd. The other members of the herd follow a distinct pecking order. Stallions will often try and steal horses into joining his herd, and will fight other stallions over it.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Horses are used for transportation, hunting, fighting, ceremonies, companionship, and spirit binding(?).

Average Intelligence

Due to their thin spiritual connection, grassland horses can be pretty smart. Some are still real dumb though.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Due to the High Spirit blood running through them, grassland horses have a connection to the spiritual land. This gives them subtle spiritual senses and it's said they affect spirit binders' powers as well. Otherwise, they have the standard senses of an Earth horse.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• High Spirits

Origin/Ancestry

All grassland horses are descended from the Star Spirit herself

Lifespan

25-30 years

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Pintos and appaloosa are favored by Makkah tribes, but grassland horses come in all horse colors.