Horse (wild)

Wild Horse

Species	hoofed mammal
No. Appearing	5–30
Behaviour	herd
Range	barrens, desert, steppe
Size	14–17 hands at the withers
Weight	800–1,100 lbs.
Intelligence	3
Armour Class	7
Hit Dice	2
Action Points	6
Max. Stride	17
THAC0	20
Hp/Die	d4+d6
Attack Forms	1: bite; or 2: hoof
Damage	bite (1–3); hoof (1-8)
Special Attacks	back kick

Wild Horses, more accurately described as "feral," are free-roaming descendants of domesticated stock rather than true wild animals. They originate from domestic horses that either wandered off, escaped, or were intentionally set free in the wild, where they adapted to survive and reproduce. Over time, their behavior has taken on traits reminiscent of true wild animals.

Feral horses typically form groups known as herds. These are usually composed of small harems led by a dominant mare. Within the herd are found additional mares, their foals and young horses of both sexes. Typically there's one dominant stallion, with less dominant males also present.

Horses possess a well-developed fight-or-flight response. When confronted with a threat, their initial instinct is often to flee. However, in situations where flight isn't an option, such as when protecting their foals, they may choose to stand their ground and defend themselves or their offspring.

Several renowned populations of free-roaming feral horses exist in regions like Iberia, southern Russia, the Americas and Turkestan. These populations are carefully managed by druids, although limited gathering from the herds is allowed during late spring.

Permission for such activities is typically sought from forestals directly or from local nobility or chieftains. Smaller, less-protected herds can be found in various locations. When handled appropriately, horses can be separated from a herd, lassoed to prevent them from kicking or resisting, and prepared for domestication by skilled horse-riders.

Advantages

Horses, unless threatened, are more like to bite when approached closely. If they feel threatened, and unable to take flight, they will rear to attack. This is a verticle stance where the horse stands on its hind legs, lifting its hooves and striking out to kick, before settling back on all four hooves again. The horse is like to strike at the same target 3 times in 4, but may attack two close enough targets otherwise.

Wild horses also employ a defensive strategy where they wait for a threat to approach closely, before executing a potent maneuver known as a "back kick." This "double-barreled kick" is a natural and instinctive behaviour, executed with remarkable speed and force. Both hooves always strike at the same target.

See Bestiary