Horse

2012-04-11T07:22:41Z

31.198.201.17: /* Trivia */

{{Era|AC|AC2|ACB|PL|AC3|Renaissance|Bbook|Secret Crusade|}}
{{WP-REAL|Horse}}
{{Revamp}}
{{quote|Any worthwhile [[Mercenaries|mercenary]] will know the value of a reliable, trained horse. Riding an animal that startles on the battlefield or loses speed quickly is a risk we will not take.|[[Mario Auditore]].|Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy}}
[[File:AC_horse_logo.jpg|thumb|250px|The Assassin Altaïr on a horse outside of Masyaf.]]

'''Horses''' are a species of hooved mammals used as a means of transport throughout most of recorded [[Humanity|human]] history. Their presence and use was widespread throughout the Middle Ages and [[Renaissance]] era.

==Appearance==
===Colors===
During the [[Third Crusade]], horses residing in the stables just outside [[Masyaf]] were always either white, black, or chestnut; however, those found within the [[Kingdom]], or at the entrances of cities, varied greatly in color.<ref name="AC">''[[Assassin's Creed]]''</ref>

Horses scattered throughout Renaissance [[Italy]] could also be found in a variety of colors.<ref name="AC2">''[[Assassin's Creed II]]''</ref>

===Breeds===
[[File:ACB_SP_S_55_AerialAssassinationOnHorse_1280.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Ezio assassinating a guard mounted on a Rouncey.]]
{{quote|The stable keeper gives me a short tour. He presents the different breeds - some bred stocky for labor, some wiry for travel, and of course, the unflinching steeds we will ride into combat.|Mario Auditore surveying the horses of Monteriggioni.|Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy}}

Three breeds of horse could be found and used throughout [[Rome]], and differed in both appearance and characteristics.<ref name="Brotherhood">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]''</ref>

The common horse or "[[Wikipedia:Rouncey|Rouncey]],"<ref name="Brotherhood User Manual">''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' User Manual</ref> heavily laden with saddle bags, could usually be found in the [[Antico District|Antico]] and [[Campagna District]]s, with the [[guards]] riding them (possibly messengers) always pushing them into a quick gallop.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

[[File:ACB_SP_S_50_HorseTakeDown_1280.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Ezio facing a horseman on a Destrier.]]
The standard horse or "[[Wikipedia:Jennet|Jennet]]"<ref name="Brotherhood User Manual" /> was mostly found in the [[Centro District|Centro]] and [[Vaticano District|Vaticano]] districts, and was usually ridden by [[civilians]]. This horse was the fastest of the three breeds.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

The rarest type, the armored warhorse or "[[Wikipedia:Destrier|Destrier]],"<ref name="Brotherhood User Manual" /> could be found in any of Rome's districts still occupied by the [[House of Borgia|Borgia]], or at stables after all had been renovated. Despite being the slowest type of horse, these armored horses were able to withstand more damage from enemy attacks without tripping.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

{{-}}
==History==
The horse and the [[Wagon|horse-drawn carriage]] were common modes of transportation, and indispensable for the [[Assassins|Assassin Order]] from the Third Crusade until the Renaissance.<ref name="AC" /><ref name="AC2" />

===Third Crusade===
The stables outside of Masyaf housed horses for the use of any Assassin who had been tasked to depart for any of the other cities, for missions or assassinations. A variety of horses could be found throughout the Kingdom as well, either in corrals and stables, or standing alone on the path, with their rider nearby.<ref name="AC" />

However, guards stationed along the paths of the Kingdom were always wary of horsemen, particularly if they were riding hard, or acted as if they were being pursued. As such, most Assassins made it a point to ride slowly when in the presence of alert guards.<ref name="AC" />

===Renaissance===
[[File:Animal Husbandry.jpg|thumb|250px|right|The stables of Monteriggioni.]]
By the Renaissance, though ridden horses still held their importance, horse-drawn carriages had also grown in popularity. [[Fast Travel Booths|Travel stations]] could often be found just outside of major cities, and offered citizens safe and easy carriage rides, for a price.<ref name="AC2" />

Horses were also essential for warfare. [[Mario Auditore]], as ruler and protector of Monteriggioni, always held the horses in high regard; since, as Mario once noted, ''"some of them will die alongside us; others will actually be key to keeping us alive."'' As such, each of his [[mercenaries]] were made to get to know their horse before riding out into battle.<ref name="Project Legacy">''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]''</ref>

Unlike in other cities previously, [[Ezio Auditore da Firenze|Ezio Auditore]] faced [[Horsemen|mounted opponents]] upon his arrival in Rome. As such, he learned to fight on horseback, assassinate horsemen, and dismount enemy riders, by either attacking them, or their horses.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

Roman horses were used by citizens, guards and Assassins alike, with the latter able to hijack horses from the former two.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

==Combat and movement==
[[File:Assassins-creed-altair-1.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Altaïr fighting on horseback against a [[Templars|Templar knight]].]]
[[Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad]] was a skilled horseman, and was able to use his [[sword]] to combat opponents while on horseback. When fleeing enemies, horses could usually outrun most pursuers, though they could be tripped by a strike from an enemy sword.<ref name="AC" />

Though horses could easily plow through crowds, pulling the horse into a rear would normally startle nearby civilians, and clear a path.<ref name="AC" />

Ezio Auditore was equally skilled at riding and combat, though he could also use a horse directly before or after [[Free-Running|free-running]]. He was able stand on the saddle at any time, and jump from horseback onto a wall or beam. Inversely, he could also jump directly onto horseback from a nearby building, or from a [[Parachutes|parachute]].<ref name="Brotherhood" />

Unlike Altaïr, Ezio (as well as any opponent he faced) was able to use a variety of his weapons while on horseback, both long and short-ranged; however, this excluded any heavy or two-handed weapon and the [[Hidden Blade]].<ref name="Brotherhood" />

[[File:Horse_combat_1.jpg|thumb|250px|left|Ezio jumping from his horse to air assassinate a Borgia soldier.]]
Though Ezio could not remain on horseback while wielding his Hidden Blade, he could perform assassinations from horseback, or on enemy horsemen. He could leap from the saddle to assassinate either an enemy on the ground, or a mounted horseman (wherein he would subsequently steal their mount). When facing a mounted opponent while on the ground, Ezio could drag them from the saddle, and assassinate them.<ref name="Brotherhood" />

Upon dismounting a horse, depending on whether or not the steed had been stolen, it would either follow its rider, or flee immediately. Additionally, if their rider was in battle next to them, horses would often kick out at attacking guards, and cause them to fall.<ref name="AC" /><ref name="Brotherhood" />

==Trivia==
*In ''[[Assassin's Creed]]'', horses taken from within the Kingdom have a tendency to abruptly change color when passing from one region to another.
*Though ''[[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood]]'' was the first to allow horses inside cities, [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G2g-COZpMXs early gameplay videos] show that riding horses inside of a city was originally intended to be possible in ''Assassin's Creed''.
*Horses are only used by guards in ''[[Assassin's Creed II]]'' during one mission, "[[Romagna Holiday]]", wherein they attack [[Leonardo da Vinci]]'s carriage.
*So far throughout the [[Assassin's Creed (series)|''Assassin's Creed'' series]], only two rideable horses have ever died. The first died during the [[Fall of Monteriggioni]], when it was hit by a collapsing tower damaged by cannon fire, and the second during the [[Siege of Viana]], when it was struck by a cannonball.
**Never once in full, physical gameplay can a ridable horse die, only ever merely trip and cause the player to fall off. This can particularly be seen during the memory "[[Outgunned]]," as horses shot by the [[Machine gun]] will not die, and will only trip and get up again.
*In ''Assassin's Creed II'', if you run over 3-4 civilians accumulatively, your horse will automatically trip.
*Other than the breeds of ''Brotherhood'', ''[[Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]'' also introduces the ceremonial [[wikipedia:Percheron|Percheron]], and two varieties of war horses.
*In ''[[Assassin's Creed: Revelations]]'', the only time horses are encountered in-game is during the carriage missions, and they are not ridable.
**However, Altaïr and [[Darim Ibn-La'Ahad|Darim]], and [[Selim I]] and a [[Janissaries|Janissary]] can be seen in horseback in two cutscenes.

'''''Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood'''''
*''Brotherhood'' is the first game where citizens are shown on horseback; though this leads to a minor anachronism: female citizens are depicted as straddling their horse rather than side-saddle. Seeing a woman's legs spread apart was a most vulgar and insulting sight during the Renaissance period.
*Galloping is disabled throughout Rome; and is only possible in [[Viana]], Monteriggioni, [[Colli Albani]], and the [[Colosseo]]'s [[Lairs of Romulus|Lair of Romulus]].
**When the game was ported to the PC, the gallop option was reintroduced.
*Jumping from a horse onto a beam 20 times is a requirement for the completion of the [[Guild Challenges#Thieves Guild|Thieves guild challenge]].
[[File:Grand Thief Dressage.png|65px|right]]
*The [[Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Achievements|achievement]] "Grand Theft Dressage" can be unlocked by stealing five horses in a row, without touching the ground. However, you need the DLC to be able to obtain it.
*Destriers cannot be found in any color but white, despite their image in the in-game manual showing a black-furred coat.
*A minor glitch may occur if Ezio is using his sword while on horseback. If he is knocked off while attacking, when he gets back to his feet, he will still hold his sword with his arm raised above his head. It will remain this way, even when supposedly attacking or countering, until the weapon is sheathed.
*Players are able to rear Ezio's horse, by using the attack button with [[Fists]] equipped.

==Gallery==
<gallery captionalign="left">
AC2_S_089_Tuscany_HorseLeapIntoSpears.jpg|Ezio on a horse jumping in [[Tuscany]].
www.totalvideogames.com_69739_AC2_S_082_Rome_HorseChase.jpg|Ezio on a horse running from soldiers on the [[Passetto di Borgo]].
Assassin s Creed Brotherhood 1 .jpg|A horseback battle between Ezio and a Borgia soldier.
Ground to Horse combat.jpg|Ezio throwing a spear at a mounted guard.
Mounted Assassins.jpg|Ezio and his [[Apprentices]] on horseback.
Ezio-San Gimignano.jpg|Ezio fighting from horseback.
Assassins-Creed-Brotherhood-horse-kill.jpg|Ezio performing an aerial assassination on a moving horseman.
1524387-996093_20100916_790screen004_super.jpg|Ezio attacking horseman with a spear.
Big Talker.jpg|Horses used in the [[Defense of Monteriggioni]].
</gallery>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{AC}}
{{ACII}}
{{ACBH}}
{{ACIII}}
{{ACFC}}
{{ACSeries}}
[[Category:Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed II Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood Gameplay]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy]]
[[Category:Assassin's Creed III Gameplay]]
[[Category:Species]]
[[Category:Usable transportation]]

Assassin's Creed Wiki - User contributions [en-gb]

Horse