Black Forest Horse

An endangered horse breed dating back to the 15th century, the Black Forest horse is good for forestry, agriculture, and in more recent times, for harness and riding work. However, agriculture and war-efforts is part of what threatens its numbers. It is one of the options for the player to purchase a draft horse, though it isn’t available in the same district that supplies that quest.

The first breed book for the Black Forest Horse can be found in an abbey, and breeding primarily stuck to the northern part of the region, with heavy ties to monasteries. The first association cropped up in 1896, but it was 1875 where the standards of the breed began to be defined, and it moved from a heavy draft horse to what is referred to as a light-to-medium draft. It is a well-muscled horse with a short neck, and an equally short head. Unlike most people’s picturing of draft horses, there is no feathering around their broad hooves.

The breed was merged with another in 1935, though the association had to be restarted following World War II. However, with the mechanization of agriculture and transport, like many other working breeds, the Black Forest Horses’ numbers began to rapidly decline as demand for them lessened. In 2017, 88 stallions and 1077 mares were all that remained registered. Never one to risk losing a horse breed, Astranar quickly swept in and gained just enough horses to begin their own breeding program in the Sphalerite District, where a light draft has plenty of work to do.

Breed Characteristics:
Only sorrels are accepted for Black Forest horses, ranging from a normal sorrel to the famous “dark fox” coloring with a nearly black coat and white mane and tail. Because they are so exceptionally rare as a breed, they can be a little more expensive.

Starting Stats: *
Speed:                    2                                              Discipline:       4
Endurance:         3                                               Agility:             3
Strength:             4

* Note, these numbers aren’t set in stone. They are Becca’s way of trying to reduce her knowledge/research of breeds and their particular skills and traits into numbers so when animators and programmers have to look at these horses, they can go, “Oh, this horse can’t turn worth beans but this one can on a dime, noted!”