Name: Crystal Horns
Pronunciation: crys·tal [kris-tl] horn [hawrn]
Definition: 

Crystal - a clear, transparent mineral or glass resembling ice.
Horn - one of the bony, permanent, hollow paired growths, often curved and pointed, that project from the upper part of the head of certain ungulate mammals, as cattle, sheep, goats, or antelopes.

Species: Equus krustallos
Location: all over Alcryst, denser populations around cities
Tame-Ability: moderate-mild,
Capture: Restricted
Breeding: Purely wild, non-receptive in captivity
Playable Type: NPC ONLY

Crystal horns are small, prolific equine-based creatures located all over the wilds of alcryst that are commonly used as beasts-of-burden and/or feeder animals. In the wild they're prey animals and avoid Horses as much as possible. These small, relatively non-descript creatures serve the same purpose in society as small-medium ponies and large donkies.

Easily tamed and trained, Crystal Horns provide a wonderful non-violent, herbivorous pet for young children. Excellent for teaching kids how to ride or handle a horse as well as teaching the basics of taming their more dangerous cousins to people.

Crystal Horns do not do well in captivity as far as breeding goes. It's uncertain what exactly causes them to no longer be receptive but females will refuse to breed in captivity and males are best left cut/gelded regardless of how docile they are. Because of this herds are kept outside city walls in a wild-like environment and monitored by their respective "owners".

These "herds" are small, ranging from one to two males that share a maximum of five females in a group. Offspring tend to leave the herds at approximately two years of age to live among others and prevent in-breeding.

When kept as a beast of burden or a childs pet it's recommended that their horns ( which grow throughout their lives ) be cut, trimmed or other-wise shaved down. The crystal-like substance of their horns makes excellent low-cost jewelry as well! Hunters are cautioned against using trimmed Crystal Horns as pack animals because the horn is their only means of defense in the wild!

Height Range: 32 cm - 12 hands
Build: light and refined to arabian-warmblood bodies
Horns: Translucent, NEVER OPAQUE, crystal of varying colors
Eyes: Always the same color as the horn
Hooves: always the same color as the horn, also typically translucent
Tails: leonine 
Typical Colors: Typically "wild" type colors. By this I mean duns, blacks, browns, bays and chestnuts with gray being very common. Dappling is ideal in these guys as they tend to hide in dappled shade when in tree-filled areas. Smaller-types exist in forested ares while larger types exist in the plains/grassy areas.

General Appearance: Typically slight of build these ponies resemble the lighter type mustangs more than anything else. They do have excellent conformation for pulling things but it's best not to over-burden them. They have short backs, incredibly long tails with a high setting, flat croups and straight or convex faces. With large, intelligent eyes, small ears and big nostrils. Their necks are typically curved and their shoulders slightly boxed in shape.

Legs tend to be long for Crystal Horns, despite their size, ending in tufted joints ranging from mild feathering to long, silky hair. Their hooves are cloven much like a cow ( with two indipendent toes that can shift apart from each other depending on the terrain ).

Horns protrude from their skulls above and between their eyes. Generally there is only a single, long horn with ringed growth lines giving them texture. The horns can appear hollow but are quite solid, and heavy. They're always translucent ( in some way! ) and can refract light much like a diamond. Smoothing the horns can be done through shaving for appearances though it's better recommended to entirely remove the horn from a domesticated Crystal Horn. The horns grow approximately a foot every three months so trimming is a constant necessity.

Temperament:

Other Uses: The Horns are often used in jewelry and weapons as they can be both fashionably beautiful and incredibly solid. Not recommended for swords but daggers and arrow-heads are definitely good options for horns. 

Furs are also quite popular. Especially after the winter when they shed for the warmer months. Crystalies are known to grow long, silky coats in the winter than can be clipped and saved for fur coats without removing the skin. They make an excellent wool lining and their manes/tails are perfect, strong, stitching materials. Tanned hides can be used for tack-leather as well.

Meats. Aside from being burden-beasts, pets and pack-animals, Crystal horns are prolific enough in the wild that truly wild herds are hunted by Hunters for meat for tamed horses.

History: