The Moab (also known as the Turanian horse) is uncommon north of
Eire, despite the very attractiveness of the breed and its excellent
characteristics as a mount.
The Moab (also known as the Turanian horse) is uncommon north of
Eire, despite the very attractiveness of the breed and its excellent
characteristics as a mount.
The Moab is a horse with a long neck set into its head at an angle that maximizes lung capacity, often with a dished face. The Moab are perfectly suited to hot, arid climates, due to their thin bodies, light spare-fleshed frames and legs. They are bred in a variety of colors, bay, chestnut, grey, dun, skew, and skewbald with the white or palomino coloring being favored.
Southern-bred and trained Moabs are perhaps the finest light cavalry mounts known to this writer, as the breed tends to be very fast for short distances, capable of instant stops and wheels on their hocks (hind legs) and can travel great distances with only minor fatigue at a moderate pace. They also favor a short stride which makes them a hard choppy ride. Despite this they are a favored light cavalry mount.
They are most frequently used by Conn Dwi horse archers and lancers, who are famed for their horsemanship and feats of arms. Well-schooled Moab horses are very nimble and courageous. Far too many other training schools produce clumsy horses which require a large area to turn. The root of this difference may be found in the tactical styles of the Conn Dwi, Turan and other southern nations which favor open ground hit-and-run tactics over the sheer massed shock maneuvers which work better in the more forested environs of the north.
A northern-bred charger can range from 15 to 16 hands, be heavy to medium in build in the region of 1,200 to 1,300 pounds in weight, with some considerably less. The Turanian/Moab horses weigh 7-800 pounds, stand under 15 hands and are built much lighter. These sizes are of course for well-fed and well-exercised horses carrying a minimum of fat.
The Moab does not fair well in the northern latitudes, as they require protection from the deep winter cold that native horses with their coarser builds and heavier coats shrug off. The same difference applies to Northern breeds however, as the water consumption of a Northern breed will soon have it languishing in climes where a Moab flourishes. They are favored racing mounts amongst those that can afford their keep. Stallions and mares are very attentive and good-natured beasts, unlike Kesslers which must be approached with care.